In wake of Gulf War, activists discuss military draft

In the wake of the Persian Gulf War, several speakers discussed what would happen in the case of a military draft before a small audience Saturday afternoon. The conference, held outdoors behind the Sweeten Alumni Center, was titled "A conference about military service, the draft and your legal options," and sponsored by the Community Draft Counseling and Information Network. During the opening hour of the conference, speakers discussed the ramifications of the Gulf War and the need to fight for peace. Art Dougherty, a member of Veterans for Peace, said that now that the war is over, the U.S. should turn to problems of homelessness, AIDS, and other social ills. Dougherty stressed the need for the peace movement to maintain its validity. Clare Kirk, a Temple University student, discussed discrimination against homosexuals and lesbians in the armed forces. She claimed that the military was inconsistant both in its definitions of homosexuality and its policy towards them. Several of the speakers said that the military's discrimination against homosexuals today is similar to that used against blacks earlier this century. Speakers said that they were pleased with the decisions by many universities to end Reserve Officer Training Corps programs. Peace activist and former Army reservist Stephanie Atkinson, who said she was dishonorably discharged for being a conscientious objector, gave a biographical account of her experience with the Army and her efforts to obtain an exemption from active duty due to conscientious objector status. Atkinson said that minorities are disproportionately represented in the military and concentrated in largely low-tech fields in which upward mobility is limited. She said that while in the Army she "felt guilt by association" by being involved with an institution that perpetuates discrimination. For the remainder of the conference speakers discussed a hypothetical draft and means available of gaining an exemption. Leading off this part of the conference was Jim Feldman, a lawyer for the Central Committee for Conscientious Objection. Feldman said that the Pentagon has designed an efficient draft plan that could be implemented on under a week's notice. "It's very important for people to know their rights now, because when it happens, it will be too late," he said. Feldman said that the draft plan would have some exemptions, but added they will be difficult to obtain. Following Feldman, several speakers talked about the status of specific cases of conscientious objectors who refused to fight in the Persian Gulf War. Dave Mailen, a member of Act for Peace, and Lori Salem, a Temple graduate student and the event's organizer, said they were "disappointed in the turnout" of about 15 people. Salem said that since most fighting stopped in the Gulf last week, the peace movement has felt less urgency for combatting the military. She said the movement must not be complacent, and that she hopes the event will combat the "antiseptic picture" of the military provided by the Bush administration. University of the Arts sophomore Dawn Osborne said that the event was important because now that the war and the immediacy of the peace movement are over, "we have to figure out where were going now."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.