University of Kentucky - Kentuckian Yearbook (Lexington, KY)

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Pam Yackey, a sophomore education major, listens during a prayer service for 30 American hostages in Iran. Although Iran agreed to the formation of a United Nation's committee to investigate the actions of the deposed Shah and U.S. involvement in Iran, the Americans were still being held captive in mid-April.

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Transition K. Stephens Somewhat isolated from the economic problems by a campus environment, the country's youth faced the return of a past threat as President Carter called for ihe reinstitution of registration for the draft. College campuses, strangely quiet since the early '70s, were once again the scenes of demonstrations and rallies. But it was a more peaceful demonstration from a generation that is unaccustomed to violence. Campus opponents to the draft began to organize in early February. Their organization, the Lexington Committee Against Registration and the Draft, like others around the country, moved to counteract Carter's proposal for registration before it could reach Congress. If you wait until it becomes a reality, it's too late. It's a hell of a lot harder to get something rescinded after it's passed, said Jim Pepper, a member of L- CARD. 3 The members of L-CARD encompassed a wide range of political beliefs. Frustration over the Iranian crisis resulted in anti-Iranian graffiti around campus. Hanging from the roof of Lafferty Hall, these signs attract the attention of passing students. Jimmy Carter’s mind isn’t going to be changed by 30 people protesting in front of the courthouse,” said Loel Meckel, a graduate student. Hoping to attract more campus support, the L-CARD maps out plans for a forum and rally in March. ' You've got people who oppose the draft because they don't want to go to war, those who oppose it because it infringes on personal freedom and those, like me, who oppose it because they are pacifists, said Pepper. Mark Koopman, a graduate student, is also opposed to the violence he feels is inherent with the draft. We feel that there are other alternatives to war to solve this country's problems, said Koopman. While Pepper and Koopman admitted that student concern was not overwhelming, both said that they could see the potential for mass demonstrations as the threat of draft becomes more imminent. As time gets shorter, emotions are going to become more intense. People are going to start getting really worried, scared, outraged, said Pepper. While not actually in support of the draft, there were others on campus who said they were willing to take up arms for the country. In the Jan. 30 issue of continued on page 5 - 0 1 1Z ILL kfU'Jf'AVO wiv im wj r 1WS1BBB11 Inadequate publicity plagued the first meetings of L- CARD. This small poster on the Student Center patio announces the committee’s second meeting. TRANSITION-3

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Transition The Courier-journal, Student Government President Mark Metcalf said that he thought most UK students felt positive toward registration for the draft. Pepper disagreed with Metcalf, saying that students just hadn't realized the full implications of such a measure. I guess they (the students) don't realize it's not going to stop at registration, said Pepper. While the members of L-CARD were sincere about their proposals for opposing registration, they were just as determined that their opposition would be a peaceful one—more organized than the marches of Jjthe '60s. I don't see that we're the seedlings of the flower children, said Pepper. While the prospects of draft and war are unfamiliar for most students, Don Pratt remembered a more violent time. Pratt, a former UK student, was involved with the I anti-draft, anti-war movement of the '60s. He spent 20 months in prison because of his resistance to the draft. A continuing dedication to personal freedom led him to become an active member of L-CARD. Pratt said that, although their purpose is the same, students in opposition to the draft have not reached continued on page While a supporter of the draft read the KERNEL in the background, Steve Hirscb, a junior arts and sciences major, advocates L- CARDS plans to rally against registration for the draft. Marching in front of the Administration Building in the fall of 1978, these Iranian students and their supporters shade their faces to avoid recognition. TRANSITION-5 K. Stephens the level of emotional involvement needed for the anti-draft movement to reach mass proportions. They're not emotionally involved because they don't have the conflict of war, said Pratt. Right now, the students haven't formulated their ideas as completely as they did through experience and over time in the '60s. He agreed with the organization's attempt to get an early start in opposing the draft. Draft registration is obviously preparation for the draft, and the draft is obviously a call to war, he said. Pratt also recognized the potential for the mass demonstrations of the past to happen again but said the issues may be different. I think that the demonstrations are not going to be over war-type issues, said Pratt. They're going to be on economic issues. People will be unable to pay for and keep up with inflation rates. While the issues of the draft were obviously related to the crises in the Middle East, there were those. Pepper and Koopman included, who felt the possible reinstitution of the draft was a political move to improve Carter's chances in the 1980 presidential election.The skepticism was heightened when the President suggested women be considered for the