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Issued in June 1968 by the University Counseling Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, this typed document offers students an overview of their rights, responsibilities, and options under the Selective Service system. With the Vietnam War at its peak, many young men on campus felt intense anxiety about potential military conscription. To address that concern, the Counseling Center expanded its services, providing up-to-date information and referrals to legal and psychological support.
Historical Context
By the late 1960s, the draft stood as one of the most contentious aspects of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Student deferments, conscientious objector status, and legal challenges to local draft board rulings were frequent topics of debate. In this environment, universities often grappled with whether—and how—to advise students who might be risking their academic careers, freedoms, and sometimes moral convictions by refusing or delaying military service.
At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, antiwar activism was particularly robust. Demonstrations and teach-ins brought together faculty, students, and community members who questioned the draft’s fairness and constitutionality. The Counseling Center’s bulletin is a snapshot of these efforts, striving to arm students with knowledge of Selective Service rules and potential avenues for conscientious objection or appeals.
Content and Objectives
- Clarifying Draft Regulations
The leaflet underscores the complexity of Selective Service law. Pointing to frequent shifts in regulations and “obsolete information,” it warns that relying on hearsay can lead to mistakes. Instead, it recommends consulting official materials—such as parts 1604 and 1621–1628 of Selective Service Regulations—and seeking expert counsel, sometimes from lawyers. - Importance of Individual Circumstances
A recurring theme is that each draft case should be treated uniquely. Although pamphlets offer general guidance, the bulletin cautions that a “little knowledge can be a dangerous thing,” urging students to interpret the law specific to their beliefs and situations. - Counseling Resources
The University Counseling Center itself is presented as a hub that can supply relevant publications—from the National Lawyers Guild’s The New Draft Law to the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors’ guides. Counselors there can also refer students to draft experts or legal professionals if deeper assistance is needed. - Key Procedural Tips
- Stay Informed: Students are advised to learn as much as possible about Selective Service and present a thorough case to their local board if they seek deferments or exemptions.
- Keep Records: Submitting materials and appeals in writing, using certified mail, and maintaining careful copies help create a legal record.
- Avoid Misinterpretations: The guide recounts an example of a registrant wanting a personal appearance but inadvertently triggering an appeal by using the wrong phrasing.
- Use Administrative Procedures: The bulletin encourages using every available channel—personal appearances, written statements, or appeals—so that cases can be argued effectively and documented if court review becomes necessary.
Language, Imagery, and Symbolism
- Neutral, Official Tone
This bulletin reads less like a political pamphlet and more as a careful legal primer. It acknowledges student anxieties while maintaining a measured, matter-of-fact style. - Emphasis on Agency
Repeatedly, the text insists that students “learn as much as [they] can” and not rely on rumors—signaling a strong emphasis on self-advocacy within a system often perceived as opaque. - Pragmatic Approach
By framing conscientious objection and appeals as legitimate pathways, the document reinforces that even within a militarized era, students have procedural rights.
Impact
For countless young men, bulletins like these were vital lifelines, clarifying how to navigate a labyrinthine draft system and articulate convictions about war and peace. Against the backdrop of protests and legal battles challenging the draft, such university-sponsored guidance further legitimized students’ concerns. Over the ensuing decades—particularly after the U.S. ended conscription in 1973—these materials became historical evidence of how higher education institutions often served as mediators between government policies and the personal crises of their students.
The University Counseling Center’s 1968 bulletin remains a testament to the tumultuous climate on American campuses during the Vietnam War. It illuminates the lengths to which universities went to ensure that students, however anxious or conflicted, received impartial, detailed counsel about one of the most pressing issues of the era.
Special thanks to the USC Digital Imaging Lab for their support in digitizing this item.
