The Madison Draft Counseling and Information Center (DCIC) began as part of the American Friends (Quakers) Service Committee (AFSC), which initiated draft counseling activities in Madison about 1968. In February 1970 the AFSC turned to promoting similar projects in other parts of Wisconsin and the DCIC continued counseling independent of AFSC guidance and support. Without the funds or manpower of AFSC, the DCIC sought financial support from other community and religious organizations. One of these, St. Francis House, provided rent-free quarters, which allowed DCIC to move from their smaller office at the Resistance House.
The staff of counselors, which numbered between twenty-three and thirty-five in 1970-1971, was volunteer, although a fulltime coordinator was employed in 1971. The main objective of DCIC counselors was to provide information to men about their rights, privileges, and alternatives under Selective Service regulations. To this end they issued memos on draft-related topics, distributed pamphlets and reprints, and maintained a large library including the Selective Service Law Reporter and other newsletters.
Most of the counselees were University of Wisconsin students, but others included high school students, non-student minority group members, and men already in the service.
