The Draft

The Crimson received a copy of the following letter, which was sent to James S. Miller, director of Financial Aid.

Enclosed is my statement of [draft] registration compliance. Many things are upsetting to me about this addition to the financial aid application. I realize that it has been included due to recent federal regulation, and I am not going to blame the financial aid office for engineering the statement. I am writing to you, and sending copies of this letter to others, because I want to voice my concern.

The most offensive part of the statement (and of the whole registration issue) is the fact that one is "off-the-hook" if one is female. I will never be penalized monetarily by the financial aid office by the financial aid office for my opposition to registration because I am a female. Is it right that half of the population of the United States must sign documents when they turn 18 years of age, that allows them to be called upon to kill their fellow humans? I do not think so. I do not think that it would be any more right if both men and women were required to register, but the fact that only men have to register is completely confusing.

Though the registration issue affects me deeply. I know that it cannot affect me as deeply as it can a male whose own life would be affected directly. His recourse could quite understandably be a decision not to register. I can only voice my opposition through letters such as these and through participation in meetings and peace rallies. As I said before, I will never be penalized by the financial aid office for my opposition to registration. I am not saying that I or other females should be penalized. I am saying that males must bear the burden of being the only ones required to register, and if they decide that they cannot, they must be denied money for their education. What is the solution? "Oh, what the heck, we won't have a war--it's only registration. Just register, there are too many problems you'll have to deal with if you don't." This is the attitude that prevails. My own parents said, "Melinda, we cannot throw away potentially thousands of dollars of aid for your education. Fine, write a letter along with the statement, but just sign the statement. There is no way around it." No way around it? No way around the fact that young men are required to say that they are available to kill!

I understand the reality of the situation, but where can we start to change that reality? With the statement of registration compliance, we are only extending the chain of interconnected regulations which are helping to put the Selective Service, and the war that it anticipates, into the very soul of our country. Melinda Beth Daetsch '85