Evening star., 1950-10-07
Educators MAY
Adopt Policies
On Crisis Today
Expected to Act
After Report Of
Resolutions Group
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

by SoIf hendley, ~.
The Nations top educators con.
tinued in conference here today.
striving to arrive at definite rec
concentrations for a policy to guide
colleges and universities in the
continuing national emergency.
The conference. called by the
American Council on Education.
opened yesterday in the Chamber
Of Commerce auditorium. OF the
900 delegates, 400 are college pres
idents.
The educators are trying to de-
termine what is expected Of COL
leges and universities in the way
of research for the Defense De-
partment and just what they may
expect in regard to mobilization Of
students and professors.
Highlight of the meeting yester-
day was disclosure of a recommen-
dation sent to Maj. Gen. Lewis B.
Hershey, director of Selective
Service. by six Scientific Advisory
Committees named by Gen. Her
shey in 1913. The recommended
tion asked that students of high
intelligence be deferred so the Ma
tion's supply of scientists would be
increased.
Another Report Today.
This afternoons session will
hear report from the resolutions
committee. The group then is ex-
pected TO adopt definite policies
covering various questions raised
by the National crisis. DR.. George
F. Zook, president of the council,
will speak on the challenge of the
future to higher education.
DR.. Earl j. McGrath, United
States Commissioner of Educa-
ton. spoke at yesterdays meeting
and advocated the deferment Of
the Nations top-bracket students.
Il believe that, as a matter Of
sound national policy" he de-
clared, there must be a program
for deferring or at least postponing
the obligation of military duty for
some part of our college and uni
versity population"
DR.. McGrath said the deferment
should be based on the students
present and potential competence
rather than on any artificial
formulae or blanket coverages."
Such a deferment program could
be adjusted easily in light of
changing manpower and training
needs, he added.
QUESTIONABLE on Facilities.
Present programs should be dis
rupted. he added. only to the ex-
tent that essential and non-essen-
tial be separated.
He said the Office of Education
was planning to send out ques-
tionnaires to get information on
what facilities the colleges and
universities have available. This
information will be used in plan
ming the role of institutions OF
higher learning in the national
defense picture, he said.
Other speakers yesterday in
cluded Raymond Walter, president
OF the University of Cincinnati:
Edmund E. Day, president emeri-
tus of Cornell University: J.
Thomas Schneider, chairman of
the Personnel Policy Board of the
Defense Department; Robert L.
Clark. director of the manpower
Office Of the National Security
Resources Board. and DR.. Eric
A. Walker. executive secretary of
the Research and DEVELOPMENT
Board OF the Defense Department.
A letter from President Truman.
commencing the objectives of the
conference, was read to the edu.
Gators.
Mr.. Truman said:
The people of the United States
are accustomed to look to their
colleges and universities for
leadership and service, both in
normal times and in times of un-
usual stress and strain. The in
stitutions of higher education pro-
vide a reservoir of resources Of
utmost Importance to the ma
tional welfare and defense.
They have always been willing
to devote their resources resolute-
ly and generously to the service of
the country in any hour of need.
Particularly during World War II
the universities and colleges gave
unstintjngly of their manpower
and physical facilities to the WIN
ming CT the conflict.
I'm the current period of inter.
national tension, the country may
again find it necessary to call on
its colleges and universities for
extraordinary services.
Those who guide the destinies
OF educational institutions can
quite properly be taking thought
individually and collectively about
plans ana programs by which they
may contribute to the national ef.
fort as future circumstances re-
quire it.
I commend most heartily the
efforts made in behalf of such OBJ
jectives by this conference on
higher education in the national
coyyiroD