But, McGeary added, he thinks that the armed forces do not increase class division, but rather provide many with opportunity for upward mobility.

“It’s been a way to transcend socio-economic and class divides,” he said.

But Rangel said citizens should not have to resort to the military as a means of advancement.

“I think that’s sad that he would think that in this great nation of ours, that people white or black have to resort to the military as an opportunity to improve their quality of life,” he said in an interview after his speech.

William C.B. Taylor ’04, a member-at-large of the College Democrats and a cadet in the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps, said he supports the draft, calling it an “opportunity” to defend our nation.

“Being drafted is nothing to fear,” he said. “It is a great honor.”

Whether or not the campus anti-war factions support the draft, one thing is clear—Rangel’s positions will bring the war debate back to the forefront of students’ minds.

“It is certainly causing some folks to think about it intellectually,” Glickman said. “It could reignite that debate.”

—Staff writer Stephen M. Marks can be reached at marks@fas.harvard.edu.