Bender Hits Deferment Plan

Dean Bender yesterday criticized sharply the new proposals of the Selective Service deferment committee which would keep top college students out of the draft. "Why rule the best brains out of the Army and Navy?" Bender said. "It doesn't seem to me to be a very sensible thing."

The CRIMSON learned Tuesday from Washington that the new deferment scheme, which still needs the approval of draft director Hershey and the White House, has the following basic criteria.

To be deferred, a student must pass the General Classification Test with a score of 110 or higher and would have to rank in the top half of the freshman class, the top two thirds of the sophomore class, or the top three quarters of the junior class.

New Listing Possible

At present, University Hall does not rank students comparatively, but Bender said that such a list could be made up if the plan goes into effect.

But Bender said he did not understand the logic behind a deferment system which deliberately would keep the most intelligent men out of the armed forces.

"I do not believe in the deferment of college students as such," Bender said, reiterating an earlier stand. He said he supports the plan of the American University Association under which no one under 22 would be deferred, and those over 22 would escape the draft only if their work or study is essential to the national welfare.