Almost 1000 students signed a petition yesterday demanding a college-wide referendum on Harvard's plan to send grade rankings to local draft boards.

David M. Forman '69, one of the leaders of the ad hoc committee which or ganized the petition drive, said last night that the response was "very encouraging."

The committee, which collected signatures outside House dining halls and the Union, hopes to get up to 2000 signatures by tomorrow night. It will then submit the petition to the Administration.

In the Union, more than 250 freshmen signed the petition. Some 150 signatures were collected at Dunster House, and about the same number at Adams. Most of the Houses averaged some 100 signatures each, although Eliot House had only 45.

Forman said that the petition would be available outside dining halls during lunch and dinner tomorrow, and possibly on Thursday.

Although it would probably be impossible to hold the referendum this Spring, committee leaders said that they hoped it could be held next Fall. Instead, they hope that Harvard will simply inform the local boards that the student is in good standing at the College.