The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 61, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 17, 1980 Page: 4 of 16
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Page 4 The J-TAC January 17,1980
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I
WASHINGTON, D. C.
(CPS)--A .few weeks before the
Democratic Party nominated
Sen. George McGovem as its
presidential candidate in July
1972--and just a year after the
26th Amendment granted
18-year-olds the vote-Illinois
Rep. Abner Mikva forecast a
McGovern victory propelled by a
new force in American politics:
the youth vote. The numbers,
according to Mikva, were simple;
'There are enough young people
to determine the election,"
Mikva wasn't the only one
who wrongly expected the
youth vote to fundamentally
alter presidential politics. But
now, as the 1980 presidential
campaign begins to simmer, no
one in serious political circles
would dare make such
predictions.
Although a well-organized
youth vote presumably could
have changed the outcomes of
the 1972 and 1976 elections,
non of the 1980 candidates'
organizations has planned any
special «ampaigns to gain the
college vote,
"We haven't given (the
college vote) up," explains Kelly
Newbi.ll> executive director of
the College Republicans, "but it
isn't really cost—effective unless
you're dealing with an area
where students make up a larger
percentage" of the population.
Less than half the eligible
18-to21-year-old voters cast
ballots in 1972 and 1976.
Politicians see no reason to
imagine that 1980, which seems
to lack any galvanizing issue like
Vietnam that might especially
appeal to the young, will be any
different.
"As far as the low turn-out of
young people (goes)," cedes
Republican -candidate Phillip
Crane of Illinois, "I don't think
you can do anything to have a
major impact on that." Crane is
hoping instead to get a "fair
share" of "those who will make
the commitment."
"College people tend to be
more aware fo the issues, and
more concerned about the
politics," observes Young
Democrats Executive Director
Bob Bahl, "but more alienated
from the system because they
feel they are not being heard.
They've participated, and
haven't gotten anything in
return. They're disillusioned."
NO BIG ISSUE
Bahl recalls that ten years ago
it was common to find several
hundred active Young
Democrats and Young
Republicans on a campus.
"Today," he mourns, "they're
lucky if they have 25."
Getting more students into
the process isn't made any easier
by the lack of a big issue as a
drawing card. Part of the
problem in creating an issue is
that the college populace is hard
to classify. Of registered college
voters, 40 percent are
a
Democrats, 40' p.ercenf are
Republicans, and the remaining ;
20 percent are independent^.
Nevertheless, the College
Republicans' Newbill thinks Sen-
Howard Baker (R^-TN) and
George Bush are the two
Republicans with the most
appeal to college students.
Ronald1 Reagan, who used to
command unquestioning support
from extremely-conservative
groups like Young Americans for
Freedom, appears to be losing
some New Right ground to
Crane.
Crane himself thinks his
support among YAF members is
"not more than Reagan's, but
we'll hold our own with (him)."
Former Texas Governor John
Connally has promised a
vigorous campus campaign, but
has yet to formualte specific
plans. Sources say Connally
hopes to gain support from his
advocacy of the Equal Rights
Amendment, but he may have
trouble because of his close
association with Richard Nixon.
POTENT SYMBOLS ,.
Among the Democrats,
President Carter did nqt excite
any1 special campus support in
1976, arid does not seerp to be
doing so in fhe early stages of
the 1980 race; California
Governor Jerry Brown's support
is thought to be much wider,
though, as in all sections of the
electorate^ Sen, Edward
Kennedy's candidacy may
narrow it.
In an initial, unscientific clue
to the direction of the college
vote, the campus paper at the
University of Texas poiled
students in August. Kennedy
took 20 percent of the "vote",
nipping "undecided" (15.S
percent). Carter and Connally
tied for third, followed by
Baker, Ford, Reagan, Brown,
and Vice President Walter'
Mondale.
According to some
Washington strategists, however,
the candidates are just as
concerned with enlisting a good
Be a Pepper
Drink
Dr Pepper
share of college-age volunteers as
they are with organizing an
improbable mobilization of the
student Vote-
The reasqq is that students
tend to be, committed, energetic
workers. "Ten students,"
accord! rig to Reagan Youth
Director Charles Lihn, "putting
in a couple of hours of work
each means more than the same
number at the polls."
Then there's what Newbil
calls "the Pepsi factor". Newbill
figures that Americans glorify
youth, and the young-looking
college volunteers can influence
the votes of their elders.
Thus the aim is to '"design a
youth campaign whereby a
candidate can demonstrate
youth support," though not
necessarily tq capture that
support, Newbill says.
>
Charlene's Chicken House
More than fust chicken
We have fish and Hamburgers too
with all the extras
Lunch Specials $2S0
Mon.-Fri. all day long
drink and tax included
, nr>
TV-t;
Closed Sat, and Sun.
1
VETERANS
NOW YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE
AND EAT IT TOO!
WITH
ARMY
ROTC
We think you'll agree that financing
a college education these days is
no piece of cake, and $8,000
would go a long way toward
meeting this sometimes difficult
problem. Army ROTC can help
take the pressure off,
because as a veteran you may qualify for the Army's newly-enacted Simultaneous Membership Program
under which up to $8,000 can be yours depending on your current academic year. This new program will
not only enable you to gain financially, but you'll build toward a meaningful future as well.
Here's how it works.
Depending on available vacancies, you become a member of an Army Reserve or National Guard unit as an
officer trainee, and at the same time, enroll in the Army ROTC advanced course at your college. Your
Reserve or Guard membership will pay you at the minimum level of an E-5, and you'll receive $100 a
month during the regular school year as an Army ROTC advanced course cadet. At the end of your second
year of ROTC, assuming there's a vacancy, you'll be commissioned a 2nd LT, and serve with a Guard or
Reserve unit while you complete the requirements for your College degree. Upon graduation, you'll
continue service with a Guard or Reserve unit while pursuing your civilian career, or you can, if you prefer,
compete for active duty as an Army officer.
And, you can do all this while continuing to be fully eligible for your G.I. benefits.
So, whoever said "you can't have your cake and eat it too'
Membership Program.
never heard of the Army's Simultaneous
FOR FULL DETAILS CONTACT:
MILITARY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
WISDOM GYM 108 968-9190
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The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 61, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 17, 1980, newspaper, January 17, 1980; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth141441/m1/4/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarleton State University.