As speculation about the United States reinstating a military draft continues, those who would declare themselves conscientious objectors might want to start preparing their cases now.

“It is very complicated,” said Chuck Epp, a Kansas University associate professor of public administration. “It is not easy to establish a conscientious objector status.”

About a dozen people attended an information forum Sunday night about being a conscientious objector, what the law requires and how local draft boards might react.

Participating in the forum at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave., were ECM Director Thad Holcombe, KU political science professor Phil Schrodt and Epp.

The war in Iraq and the possible re-election of President Bush have caused concern among college students about a new draft. Both Holcombe and Schrodt said before the seminar that they had heard those concerns from KU students.

The United States has not had a draft since the early 1970s.

There are three tests a draft board looks at in deciding whether someone fits conscientious objector status, Epp said. The tests call for being opposed to any war and not just some of them. The status is not open to people who oppose war solely upon considerations of pragmatism or policy, Epp said. And the objector’s beliefs must be “deeply held,” he said.

It is important for an objector to have a file that includes letters from those who know them and can vouch for their concerns, such as a minister, Epp said. They also should document any social peace groups they have been involved with, Epp said.

Holcombe and Epp both said that many local draft board members were not familiar with all details of the conscientious objector laws. Holcombe, who was a draft counselor during the Vietnam War, said he found draft board members to have integrity, “but they were totally confused.”

Matt Jones is not a student, but at 28 he thinks he is young enough that the military still might draft him.

“I think it could happen a lot easier than I want to believe,” said Jones, a Lawrence resident who attended Sunday’s forum. “I’ve been a conscientious objector all my life.”

Margaret Kobawoo, 19, a KU sophomore from Wichita, also attended the forum. Although she said she wasn’t too concerned that women might be drafted, she has friends who are worried about a draft. The draft chances would decline if Democrat John Kerry gets elected president, she said.

“I think he’s a little more concerned with what the citizens want,” Kobawoo said.