Financially distraught Birmingham Southern College (BSC) is staying open after its board unanimously voted not to close its doors Wednesday night, despite failing to obtain a bailout from taxpayers.
The Birmingham City Council is divided in its support for a Birmingham Southern College bailout, even as Gov. Kay Ivey, state legislators and a Jefferson County commissioner have already expressed disinterest in forking up money for the private school.
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) announced the award for financially struggling Birmingham-Southern College of $500,000 in federal money earlier this week for the school's "experiential learning and civic engagement student initiatives" and suggested that lawmakers should use public funds to bail out the private college.
Over $7 million from the new $1.7 trillion federal spending package is going to four projects in Jefferson County.