GROVE CITY, OH (WCMH) — Local city-funded scholarships are being called unconstitutional by a national rights group.
Grove City is hoping to retain local college students after graduation. But one of the schools on the scholarship list is a Christian university.
A formal letter from the Freedom from Religion Foundation is asking for assurances from Grove City that Ohio Christian University will not receive any taxpayer money from a local scholarship program.
Matthew Weinert is getting one of the 40 plus scholarship from the Grove City Higher Education Investment Program. He said he’s going to Ohio Christian University for a purpose.
“It would actually cost me, OCU is one of the cheaper schools in the area,” said Weinert. He said he is studying for a Business Administration degree, which is secular.
Now he said he might end up with more student loans, because the foundation insists these scholarship can’t be used at Christian colleges.
“I understand what they are trying to do, but then again no one is making other people go to this school,” Weinart said.
City Councilman Ted Berry said the scholarship program is designed to give students some “financial assistance” to use at several local colleges and universities, which would help retain those graduates in the area.
“You know we have Pell Grants and Ohio Instructional Grants that are funded by the state of Ohio. All of which are programs that can used at private schools,” Berry said.
But the Freedom Foundation said OCU is located in a church and mixes the promotion of Christianity with secular studies. “Scholarships from Grove City to attend OCU violate both the Ohio State Constitution and U.S. Constitution.”
“I don’t think it should matter as long as the school is an accredited university, then it should the students choice of where they spend their money as long as it is a certified school,” said Bowling Green State University Allison Chester.
Chester is receiving a different scholarship, but said it should be a student choice of which school they attend.
City council will meet at 7pm to discuss the complaints from the Freedom of Religion Foundation. They will also possibly vote on funding for the scholarship program.