{"id":11100,"date":"2023-05-05T09:45:17","date_gmt":"2023-05-05T13:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/?p=11100"},"modified":"2023-05-05T09:45:17","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T13:45:17","slug":"ohio-universitys-students-swap-smartphones-for-faith-and-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/2023\/05\/ohio-universitys-students-swap-smartphones-for-faith-and-friends.html","title":{"rendered":"Ohio University’s Students Swap Smartphones For Faith and Friends"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A new program at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio puts faith, God, and new connections first in a fascinating way for today\u2019s times. The program will offer scholarships to students to put their smartphones down to better connect with religion, prayer, and each other.<\/p>\n

During an appearance on \u201cFox & Friends Weekend,\u201d Lauren Green, the chief religion correspondent for Fox News Channel, discussed the details of the continuing experiment at the Catholic college in Steubenville, Ohio, saying, \u201cThis is really an amazing thing.\u201d She continued, \u201cOver the last year, there\u2019s been a \u2018pilot program.\u2019 A bunch of alumni got together and said, \u2018We\u2019re going to offer these scholarships to students who will ditch their smartphones, not for a semester, not for a year, but for the entire four years they\u2019re at Franciscan University.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Green said 30 students receive tuition assistance as part of the program but added, \u201cBut 50 more students who did not receive assistance also got rid of their phones. She says the students created a group called Humans Engaging Reality. Students are on an honor code or system regarding ditching their phones during this time. On that point, Green said one of the students related a funny story that resulted from this program.<\/p>\n