Western Kentucky University - Talisman Yearbook (Bowling Green, KY)

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little support it was an apathetic time. There just wasn’t much activity on the part of the Democrats. “Our organization was much stronger in 1976,’ Durham, a graduate assistant in the government department, said. ‘‘About all we -could do is help keep the headquarters downtown open.” The 12-member committee had a voter- registration drive in early October, but com- plicated registration laws made it hard to sign out-of-town students, Durham said. “We handled 60 or 70 absentee ballots for people who didn’t want to go home to vote,” he said. Durham said he thought Reagan’s landslide victory was a mandate against Carter. ‘People were just not happy with his administration,” Durham said. ‘‘It was as if people were saying, ‘Let’s try something new.’ ” — Lisa Roberts Cary Dodson, a Carter supporter, said the Democrats weren’t effective in getting support for the president on campus. “‘It seemed like we were organized, but we just didn’t get a lot done. “The Republicans had a lot of people who really worked,” he said, adding that the nation- wide Republican campaign seemed to have a lot of momentum. The Tompkinsville freshman said the Democratic headquarters on College Street was one of the quietest places in town. “There wasn’t as much activity as I'd seen in some of the past elections,” he said. ‘We didn't even have money for a phone bank.”’ Dodson said he’s been involved in several elections, including the 1978 gubernatorial primary. “I was quite surprised Carter didn’t carry Kentucky, the state party just didn’t put much money into this area,’ he said. Reagan’s campus supporters enjoyed more enthusiasm than other groups, according to Students for Reagan committee chairman Karla Groschelle. But Groschelle, a Jamestown junior, said money problems kept the several dozen com: mittee members from taking an active role in REPUBLICAN RONALD REAGAN’S image is projected from the wide-screen television on the fourth floor of the university center. A small group of students watched the na- tionally televised debate between Reagan and independent candidate John Anderson. Incumbent Jimmy Carter refused to participate in that debate. the campaign. ‘‘We couldn’t afford to do too much,’ she said. Much of the campus stumping for Reagan was done by personal contact — ‘‘Just talking to people about it,’’ Groschelle said. She said Reagan’s large victory margin reflected confidence in the new president. She also pointed to Republican victories in the con- gressional elections. Besides organized political activity from stu dent groups, two university-sponsored events brought the 1980 presidential election to campus. On Oct. 22, a debate among representatives of the three major candidates was sponsored by the University Center Board. Almost 100 people heard former Gov. Ed- ward T. Breathitt, speaker for the Democrats; Larry Forgy, Reagan state campaign chairman; and Woods, Anderson representative. Woods replaced Joel Goldstein, state co-chairman of the Anderson campaign, who was originally scheduled to appear. After each representative made an opening statement, a three-member media panel — Tom Caudill of the Park City Daily News, Roy Brassfield from WBKO-TV and Kathryn Runner continued on page 24 ONLY THREE PEOPLE show up for an organizational meeting of Carter supporters. Bowling Green city commis: sioner Patsy Sloan spoke to Lorrain Cooper, a Louisville graduate student; Cary Dodson, a Tompkinsville freshman; and Jeff Durham, a Bowling Green graduate student (at desk), who formed the core of Western’s Carter campaign. ey — Jim Gensheimer 23 Election

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22 Election Campus political activity was light and students involved said there just wasn't enough money — or interest. A landslide with Ithough Ronald Reagan won the 1980 Asie election by a landslide, most pollsters were predicting a close race throughout the fall. In spite of widely publicized debate squab- bles, attacks and rebuttals, political activity on campus was light, according to local organizers. Tim Woods, chairman of the Students for Anderson Committee, said his organization lik- ed it that way. ‘“‘We thought a light turnout would help (John) Anderson,” he said. Although the committee had received its charter from the university in July, Woods said the 50 or so members didn’t pursue the cam- paign aggressively until a few weeks before election day. ‘We were on a limited budget,’ Woods said. Most of the organization's activity was ic a 4 mt aan ie ho ale Pax restricted to passing out leaflets at the universi- ty center. ‘It seemed like the other organiza- tions were taking care of voter registration,’ he said. The Louisville sophomore said as election day drew nearer, Anderson’s support seemed to drop off rapidly. ‘‘People just didn’t think he could win, so they didn’t vote for him,’’ Woods said. ‘‘It was more of an interesting campaign than we've had for a while,”’ he said. Smith said he supported Anderson and was disappointed when President Jimmy Carter refused to debate Anderson. “| think Carter’s refusal showed him to be a weak leader,’’ Smith said. “It made him look scared.” Smith was impressed by the Republicans’ na- tional campaign effort. He said, ‘| thought they did a super job. The Democrats really took a 2 € ? i BA eee owe ws eer ope see a@h ¢ Fe a ee OO. air them for granted. “It was like the Democrats just took a last- minute shot at it,’ Smith said. “Il don’t know why they didn’t put more money into the state programs. Finding space for a Bowling Green head- quarters for Anderson was difficult, Smith said. Finally a realtor with few political ties let the group use a building on State Street. “Most of the realtors said they had plenty of places they'd let us have if we represented one of the major party candidates,’ Smith said. ‘| guess they didn’t take Anderson seriously, just like everybody else.” Chairman of the Carter Steering Committee in Bowling Green Jeff Durham said he didn’t see much student involvement in the 1980 campaign. ‘| hate to use the word,’ Durham said, “but

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24 Election — Todd Buchanan A landslide om. for the College Heights Herald — asked ques- tions in a format similar to the national debate. In the hour-long debate, Breathitt defended Carter’s record, blaming inflation and unemployment on the Ford and Nixon administrations. Forgy attacked Carter’s economic. and foreign affairs policies, calling them an “abysmal, continual embarrassment.”’ Woods portrayed Anderson as a candidate with courage to make unpopular decisions to deal with the economy. As the debate ended, Forgy noted that the Democratic party had produced many great leaders, but he said Carter was not one of them. SUPPORTERS OF JOHN ANDERSON make their feelings known through this message. The sign, along with posters and bumper stickers were common sights at the Anderson Headquarters on the square. A TELEVISION SET and empty chairs surround Joe Bill Campbell, Warren County Democratic party chairman, and Joe Cook, a Bowling Green resident. The two were the only ones left at Carter Headquarters after the president gave his concession speech. — Jim Gensheimer