Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Feb. 7, 2003, edition 1 / Page 2
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uMUtui rftflin .CXJT+L The Draft: Should We Have to Serve? Mary Layton Atkinson Campus Life Correspondent According to The New fork Times, two Democratic con gressmen urged their col leagues to support a bill that would reinstate the draft in a letter they made public Jan. 27. The identical House and Senate bills were introduced by Representative Charles B. Rangel of New York and Sena tor Ernest F. Hollings of South Carolina, and call for a rein statement of the draft in addi tion to a period of national ser vice for those not needed in the armed forces. Both men and women ages 18 to 26 would be required to serve for two years under the bill, with exemptions made only for those enrolled as high school students or those with disabilities. Aides to both congressmen ff's Party Tlmefl f Quizno's itfi it Si BAHAMAS FLORIDA 111. iMSlri It llttir (^) Offer Good at 5803-B Hunt Club Rd. Location Only! ksfffiSfl'*£J : yj*[ffifl 1 Bj Sub & Drink . - - - v . With Student ID Vy k '- v 1 AOO £JA J349 I Located Behind CVS On Guilford College Rd, JVcLUM± acknowledged to the press that the legislation was drafted in an effort to facilitate discussion of the issues surrounding an im pending war with Iraq, and were not likely to become law. 8 * J m. I > * Jfe ,v '| SPI Robert Duncan. Sarah Austin "If we are preparing for war against an en emy who wishes to 'threaten our society,' as Presi dent Bush says, then it makes sense that all who benefit from our society must share in defend ing it," the joint letter said. Defense sec retary Donald Rumsfeld does not share this sentiment. "The disadvantages of us ing compulsion to bring into the armed services the men and women needed to fight a war are notable," Rumsfeld said. Guilford political science professor and former CIA em ployee Robert Duncan believes, however, that compulsory ser vice can be beneficial to both the nation and the individual. "I think every young per son should serve their country in some capacity whether it be the military, VISTA, the Peace Corps, etc.," Duncan said. "By serving their country, these people provide meaningful con tributions to so ciety while learning market able skills such as computer technology, man agement, com munity service, and leadership." Many stu dents, such as senior George Manley, are not eager to see mandatory ser vice, something already widely required in Europe, become a reality in the U.S. "I think requiring manda tory service gives the govern ment too much power over the February 7, 2003 Page 2 individual," Manley said. "I do think, however, that it is a good idea to create aware ness of what it takes to fight a war by introducing this leg islation - it's a good shock tactic. People think back to Desert Storm and think that we can fight a war without people getting hurt. I just hope it doesn't pass." Even if the bill were to be come law, some students doubt that it would be able to ensure service by young people from all socioeconomic levels. "I agree with their motives for proposing the draft legisla tion. One of the reasons is to make sure that there aren't just poor people fighting this war," sophomore Fern Hickey said. "But I don't believe we are going to see senators' sons being forced to enlist any time soon. They would find an ex ception."
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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