Students With Past Leaves of Absence May Get Draft Calls From Some States

Students who have taken a year's of absence in the past may be for induction by their local draft boards because of recent increases in draft.

Those who are called and deemed "physically acceptable" would be given (C) status, postponing their induction until the end of the academic year. Until recently, draft boards had largely and a federal requirement that student complete their B.A. in four years qualified for 2-S status. Now, how-increasing manpower requirements are forcing boards to consider drafting students who have taken extra time in getting their degree.

According to the State Director of the Selective Service for Massachusetts, "today's conditions compel a re-examination of student deferment policies and attitudes." In a letter to local draft boards on Oct. 7, John C. Carr said students who fail to "make normal progress" in getting their degree may not to convince their local boards... Their cases are exceptional and that is unusual circumstances warrant able deferment action."

But to be eligible for immediate 2-S status, he said, a student must be "on the time basis." "Full time study is sered to be that which will allow the student to complete his course within the normal period required...four years for a bachelor's degree."

Officials at local draft boards and state headquarters said yesterday that the more stringent enforcement of the requirement would apply primarily to seniors in their fifth year. The exact number of students affected will depend on the decisions of individual draft boards now in the process of reclassifying their registrants.

Although a student with 1-S (C) status could appeal the decision before the end of the academic year, the officials contacted yesterday indicated that deferment would be unlikely because of increased manpower requirements, even if the student had been admitted to graduate school.