The purpose of the study was to identify inconspicuous, non-violent actions and activities engaged in by college men of draft age as a result of their impending military obligation. The study was designed to produce information relative to:1. The influences, if any, the Selective Service System has had in stimulating changes of attitude among college men of draft age.2. The influences, if any, that the employment and presence of the Selective Service System and possible compulsory military service has had in determining the academic programs or occupational choices among college men.3. The influences, if any, that the adoption of a national lottery system has had on the ability of college men to plan for the future.4. The methods, if any, used or considered by male students to delay or avoid entry into military service.5. The extent to which college men have joined or participated in anti-war organizations or activities to protest the methods of selecting men for military service via the Selective Service System.The study was conducted at a medium-sized state college in the northern midwestern United States and included 350 participating male students classified by College "X" as sophomores and seniors at the beginning of the 1970 autumn term. All participates were under twenty-six years of age as of November 1, 1970, had not had any active military experience, and had been assigned a lottery number under the Selective Service System procedure established in November, 1969.The data was collected via a formal questionnaire, informal interviews with ten per cent of the selected population, and through impromptu conversations with more than two hundred male students on the campus of College "X."Some of the conclusions which resulted were:Uncertainties related to war and inability to plan for the future have served as a major factor in liberalizing the view of many college men and caused the development of hedonistic attitudes among those men.The traditional mores of American society dominated the conduct of most college men, but the influence of the old mores was decreasing.The proportion of college men who would cheat on their physical examination in an attempt to avoid military service was substantial and increasing; few men attempted to avoid military service by claiming homosexuality or mental illness.The lottery system was preferred to the selective-deferment method previously used by the Selective Service System.The four-year student deferment has considerably increased the number of men who have attended college.Only a small minority of college men belonged to anti-war groups or participated in the activities of such groups; but younger men, and men with draftable lottery numbers were more likely to participate in anti-war activities.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/175104 |
| Date | January 1971 |
| Creators | Bilse, Donald Harvey |
| Contributors | Lyon, Don O. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | ix, 146 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
| Coverage | n-us--- |
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