ISU professors and state politicians said they do not foresee the implementation of a military draft, even if the United States does go to war with Iraq.

If a New York congressman has his way, however, the draft will be expanded and activated, affecting millions of young adults.

On January 7, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., introduced a bill in Congress that would reinstate the military draft.

Rangel said his proposal will serve two purposes: to force Americans and politicians to reconsider going to war with Iraq and to ensure the military has a more equitable representation.

In its current state, the bill would require all men and women between the ages of 18 and 26 to participate in the draft. That differs from the current Selective Service System, which requires only men between the ages of 18 and 25 to register for the draft.

Steffen Schmidt, university professor of political science, said the bill has essentially “no potential to pass.”

He said he sees no need for the bill, because the current Selective Service System is “pretty widely supported.”

The current system would be used to “provide manpower to the military by conducting a draft in an emergency,” according to the Selective Service’s Web site. Schmidt said he foresees no emergency that would cause the reinstatement of the draft.

Prior to being deactivated following the Vietnam War, the draft was widely supported by the American people.

“It was the way we got people in the military,” Schmidt said.

He said during Vietnam, “opposition grew as [the war] became more trouble.”

Schmidt said the draft was ultimately deactivated because “people didn’t understand why we were there.”

Schmidt said the current legislation could have an opposite effect to Rangel’s intended opposition to the war.

“Instead of opposition [to war if the draft were reinstated], there may be more support to give the military everything it needs to get the kids home safely.”

As for the idea that the military needs to be more representative of the U.S. population, Schmidt said minorities are actually underrepresented in the most dangerous positions, such as those on the front lines.

Rangel said there is a disproportionate number of minorities in the military, and that for most minorities, the military is their only option following high school.

Schmidt said, “For a lot of minorities, the military is seen as an opportunity to gain various skills such as leadership.” He said many minorities see serving in the military as a beneficial thing to do.

State Rep. Jane Greimann, D-Ames, agreed with Rangel. She said the U.S. is “putting the poorest [citizens] out [in the battle zones].”

She said the threat of a draft heightens the concerns for all Americans and “reminds all of us that war is serious.”

David Schroeder, junior in history and a member of the Army ROTC, said he would like to see the draft reinstated.

Schroeder said he believes the military might be weaker at first if the draft were in place, but over time the military would be stronger and better than it currently is.

He said the “feeling among people is that an all-volunteer military creates better soldiers and fewer casualties.”

Nick Hartley, senior in political science and philosophy, echoed the sentiments of many students. “I wouldn’t be in favor of [the draft], but I wouldn’t flee from it.”

Hartley said he would be willing to serve in the military if he had to.

Megan Osborn, junior in journalism and mass communication, said while there are other things she would like to do with her life, she said she realizes “it’s my civic duty to protect my country if it’s deemed necessary.”

Osborn said this generation of students is politically apathetic, and that could lead to “a lot of draft dodgers.”

She said, “They won’t have any idea what they are supposed to do [if they got drafted].”

Iowa’s representatives are not fully supportive of a draft.

Bill Burton, spokesman for Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said, “The idea is right to personalize war with members of Congress, but it’s pretty unlikely the draft will be reinstated.”

In a statement released via e-mail by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, Grassley said the draft is an “instrument of last resort.” He does not support reinstating it at this time.

State Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said, “I can’t imagine the circumstances [in which the draft would be reinstated]. I don’t see any real need for it at the moment.”

— CNN contributed to this story.