Klepper v. Bd. of Regents

2 Ohio App. Unrep. 558
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 29, 1990
DocketCase No. 89AP-277
StatusPublished

This text of 2 Ohio App. Unrep. 558 (Klepper v. Bd. of Regents) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Klepper v. Bd. of Regents, 2 Ohio App. Unrep. 558 (Ohio Ct. App. 1990).

Opinion

YOUNG, J.

This matter is before this court upon the appeal of Michael M. Klepper, appellant, from a judgment on the pleadings rendered in favor of the appellees, Ohio Board of Regents ("Board of Regents"), the Ohio State University and the Attorney General of Ohio.

Appellant was formally enrolled at Ohio State University and paid the in-state tuition amount established for Ohio residents. Appellant partially financed his education with Ohio Instructional Grants provided by the state of Ohio. See R.C. 3333.12. Appellant is required by federal law to register with the Selective Service System. See Section 453, Title 50, U.S. Code. However, based upon his opposition to a military draft, appellant has not registered, as required.

Effective as of winter quarter 1987, R.C. 3345.32 mandated that state universities such as Ohio State University demand from all male students born after December 31, 1959, a statement of selective service status whereby the male student certifies that he either is registered, or in ineligible, for the draft. A failure to file a statement of selective service status results in the student being (1) charged an out-of-state tuition surcharge even though he is an Ohio resident; (2) denied loans and/or loan guarantees from the Ohio Student Loan Commission; and (3) denied all loans, grants, scholarships or other educational financial assistance under R.C. 3315.33, 3333.12 3333.21, 3333.22 3333.26, 3333.27, 5910.03 5910.032, and 5919.34.

When appellant was specifically denied an Ohio Instructional Grant and charged the surcharge for out-of-state tuition, he filed an action for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief to prevent the appellee from enforcing R.C. 3345.32, and challenged this statute's constitutionality. Both parties filed cross motions for judgment on the pleadings. The trial subsequently sustained appellees' motion for judgment on the pleadings and overruled appellant's motion. Thereafter, this appeal ensued and appellant now asserts the following six assignments of error:

"First Assignment of Error

"The trial court erred to the prejudice of the Appellant by sustaining the Appellees['] Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, because the statute challenged herein, § 3345.32, Ohio Revised Code, violates the Equal Protection Clause of Article I, §2, of the Ohio Constitution.

"Second Assignment of Error
"The trial court erred to the prejudice of the Appellant by sustaining the Appellees['] Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, [559]*559because the statute challenged herein, §3345.32, Ohio Revised Code, violates Article II, §26 of the Ohio Constitution.
"Third Assignment of Error
"The trial court erred to the prejudice of the Appellant by sustaining the Appellees!'] Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, because the statute challenged herein, §3345.32, Ohio Revised Code, violates Article II, §32 of the Ohio Constitution.
"Fourth Assignment of Error
"The trial court erred to the prejudice of the Appellant by sustaining the Appellees!'] Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, because the statute challenged herein, §3345.32, Ohio Revised Code, violates II, §28 of the Ohio Constitution.
"Fifth Assignment of Error
"The trial court erred to the prejudice of the Appellant by sustaining the Appellees!'] Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, because the statute challenged herein, §3345.32, Ohio Revised Code, violates Article VI, §5 of the Ohio Constitution.
"Sixth Assignment of Error
"The trial court erred to the prejudice of the Appellant by sustaining the Appellees!'] Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, because the statute challenged herein, §3345.32, Ohio Revised Code, violates Article I, § 10 of the Ohio Constitution and the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution."

In considering a motion for judgment on the pleadings, the party against whom the motion is made is entitled to have all the material allegations in his complaint, with all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom, construed in his favor as true. See Peterson v. Teodosio (1973), 34 Ohio St. 2d 161. The trial court must be satisfied that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief. See Ashland Oil, Inc. v. Arnett (N.D. Ind. 1987), 656 F. Supp. 950.

In his first assignment of error, appellant asserts that the trial court by sustaining appellees' motion for judgment on the pleadings since R.C. 3345.32 violates the Equal Protection Clause of Section 2, Article I, Ohio Constitution. The Equal Protection Clause, Section 2, Article I, Ohio Constitution states:

"All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their equal protection and benefit, and they have the right to alter, reform, or abolish the same, whenever they may deem it necessary; and no special privileges or immunities shall ever be granted, that may not be altered, revoked, or repealed by the general assembly ***."

R.C. 3345.32 states, in pertinent part:

"*** Each statement of selective service status shall contain a section wherein a male student born after December 31, 1959 certifies that he has registered with the selective system in accordance with the 'Military Selective Service Act,' 62 Stat. 604, 50 U.S.C. App. 453, as amended, and a space for the student to record the selective service number he was assigned. ***

"(C) A state university or college that enrolls in any course, class, or program a male student born after December 31, 1959 who has not filed a statement of selective service status with the university or college shall, regardless of the student's residency, charge him any tuition surcharged charged students who are not residents of this state."

The Ohio courts have traditionally applied the two-tiered test formulated by the United States Supreme Court to Ohio's Equal Protection Clause. See Bd. of Edn. v. Walter (1979), 58 Ohio St. 2d 368. The unequal treatment of classes of persons by a state is valid only if the state can show that a rational basis exists for the inequality, unless the discrimination impairs the exercise of a fundamental right or establishes a suspect classification. Id. at 373.

The facts before this court do not involve a suspect classification such as race, religion, or nationality. Furthermore, there is no precedent which establishes the pursuance of a college education as being a fundamental right. Thus, this court must analyze the facts in light of whether the state can demonstrate a rational basis for the classification set forth in R.C. 335.32.

Selective service registration, pursuant to Section 462(F), Title 50, U.S Code, is not only a concern of the federal government but is also the basis for a legitimate state interest. See Selective Service System v. Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (1984), 468 U.S. 841. It is a legitimate state to coordinate its efforts with other states in supporting the federal government in its enumerated power of providing for the common defense.

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Related

Ashland Oil, Inc. v. Arnett
656 F. Supp. 950 (N.D. Indiana, 1987)
State v. Western Union Telegraph Co.
97 N.E.2d 2 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1951)
Peterson v. Teodosio
297 N.E.2d 113 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1973)
Board of Education v. Walter
390 N.E.2d 813 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1979)

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Bluebook (online)
2 Ohio App. Unrep. 558, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/klepper-v-bd-of-regents-ohioctapp-1990.