The question of reinstating the draft has been put to rest as the draft bill, HR 163, was defeated in the House of Representatives Oct. 5 by a 402-2 vote.

The bill required that men and women, age 18-26, serve a minimum of two years in the military, and unlike the draft of the 1960s, HR 163 excludes student deferrals.

Nicole Fisher, a 24-year-old sophomore, said she thinks it is great that the bill didn’t pass.

“We have enough men and women out there defending us, and maybe if there was more support for this war, there would be no need for a draft,” Fisher said.

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and Sen. Fritz Holling, D-S.C, as a way to build opposition to the war, introduced proposals in January 2003.

According to an article published in The Nation, Rangel said that the draft would spread the burden of war throughout society, and force war supporters in the upper classes to put their children where their mouths are.

“I’m happy the bill was voted down because that would have really interrupted my plans,” said senior Katherine Kim, 24. “But when I think about equality and how women have fought so long for equal rights, I think maybe a draft is fair.”

Some people criticize Rangel’s theory, saying it’s unrealistic to expect the draft to be fair.

“Subject to Debate” columnist Katha Pollitt said that when one loophole closes, another will open.

Pollitt said that if Rangel succeeded in banning student deferments, privileged kids would be funneled into safe stateside units, just the way President George W. Bush was.

Republicans moved quickly to defeat the bill in hopes that it would end Internet rumors that began circulating over the summer, detailing Bush’s plans to resurrect the draft in a second term.

At the second presidential debate Friday evening, President Bush said that as long as he was president there would not be a draft.Some youth advocates are skeptical.

Sen. John Kerry has said that he has no plans to bring back the draft, and questioned how fairly it was administered in the past.

Some feel this issue is not over, but for now, young adults can rest assured that the draft bill is not an immediate threat.