Included in a recent defense policy bill passed by Congress and signed into law, young men will be automatically included in the military draft starting this December. The structure of the policy change has sparked con- versation within the nation, as well as here at Haldane.

The Selective Service Sys- tem’s 2024 report to congress stated that automatic registration for the military is already enacted by 46 state legislatures. The nationwide expansion of automatic enrollment in the Selective Service will apply to most men between the ages of 18 and 26. One question this new policy raises is should women be included in the automatic military draft?

Not all answers to this debate have to be an eas

y yes or no, and some even criticize the idea of mandatory drafting itself, male or female. Everyone has a different opinion, and opinions at Haldane seemed to be mixed.

“Being drafted could be considered good or bad depending on who you ask, but as there are more steps to gender equality, this could be one of them.”

Gunnar Lemke, freshman

“I think that women should be allowed to be included in the draft. In order for us to move forward in a society where women and men are equals, these are the steps we have to take going forward.”

Anya Mercurio, sophomore

“I think that there should be no military draft, no matter the gender of a person. People should have the right to live their lives as they please without being forced to join up in arms.”

Allegra Clementson, freshman