The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, July 15, 1980-Page 3 Convention Reports -Eu-° } Rep lican youth highly visible at convention By SARA ANSPACH Specialto The Daily DETROIT - Their cheers have a familiar ring, and if they didn't look quite so All-American, you could be foaled into thinking they were a group of University students marching towards the stadium on a football Saturday. The clean-cut crew of hundreds of young people shouted "Here we go, Ronny! Here we go!" as they marched into the first session of the Republican Convention yesterday. They treated the convention as casually as they would a FREE LUNCH You might say that one of the overriding themes of the Republican party is "there is no such thing as a free lunch." In fact, Stephen Gibble, chairman of the College Republican National Committee, said it in his address before the entire delegations yesterday, a little before noon. Few members of the Youth for Reagan group heeded his warning, however. Promised a free chicken and cole slaw lunch, young Republicans scurried over to Cobo Hall after the opening session of the convention only to find that most of their lunch had been gobbled by delegates and media people who in- nocently assumed the free lunches were for everybody. Several angry Youth for Reagan members stormed into a nearaby cafeteria demanding a free lunch. "I can't give them a free lunch," complained one worker. "There aren't any free lunches here." CANCER CUT Asked by a reporter about Rep. Jack Kemp's chances of getting the vice presidential nod from Reagan, a GOP member of Congress replied: "I don't think so. I think even Reagan knows that Jack is a one issue man. Why, his answer to can- cer would oe a tax cut." football game, in which, although the victor is almost predetermined, it is nevertheless fun to cheer. TO THE REPUBLICAN Party, however, the young people are more than an enthusiastic cheering section. They represent an untapped potential of both volunteers and voters who may someday, the'GOP hopes, help the Republicans to become the majority party. The Democrats have nothing similar to the GOP's present Young Republican Federation. It has a budget of more than a half-million dollars and a full- time staff of professional Republicans to help organize Young Republican and College Republican clubs across the country. And yesterday, the Young Republican chairman announced a costly new project called "Operation Persuasion" - a massive media blitz to convince young Americans that the GOP wants them. THE GOP emphasis on young people was apparent yesterday. Three GOP youth leaders were given a chunk of prime convention time to talk about young people and the party's future, and young recruits from ages 15 to 25 mulled around the convention wearing shining "Youth for Reagan" cards around their necks. Housed in the dormitories of Eastern Michigan University, many of the youth brigade are sons- and 'daughters of delegates. Others were solicited by delegates or were asked to come because they had volunteered in some Republican's campaign - not necessarily Reagan's. THE YOUTH for Reagan represen- tatives are miniatures of their delegate counterparts. Like the delegates, they are mostly white, nicely dressed, and spotless. . They are all ultra- conservatives. Many of the young convention-goers grew up in Republican neighborhoods and households, and life as a Republican is all they have ever known. Bill Frank, however, is a product of Democratic parents and a Democratic town, but says he is a bonafide Republican. According to the 20-year- old college student from Baltimore, Republicans are the ones who can save the country. _ "Everyone's turning more conser- vative, the youth included. The economic uncertainty and problems we are facing now transcend age," he said. THE ERA does not seem to be a big issue with these young people. Sheri See YOUNG, Page 14 THE STARK RENAISSANCE Center towers over a nearby satellite dish Sun- day. Both the RenCen and the dish were awaiting the onslaught of thousands of Republican delegates in Joe Louis Arena yesterday. Anderson supp orters appear at ERA rally By' MITCH STUART Special t The Daily DETROIT - The relatively small group of 50 men and women was vir- tually lost in the crowd during yester- day's pro-ERA rally here, but the determined band was not to be shouted down. Supporters of Independent presiden- tial candidate John Anderson were taking full advantage of the GOP's decision not to support the Equal Rights Amendment. Chaiting "Anderson,, for ERA," backers of the Illinois represen- tative tried to churn up support for the Republican-turned-Independent presi- dential candidate. THE GROUP'S appearance in the ERA rally was just one step in a calculated assault on the Detroit area and the entire state. Anderson cam- paign workers last week opened an "Anderson for President" office just two blocks from Cobo Hall and Joe Louis Arena, the site of this week's See ANDERSON; Page 11 We're at the convention The Michigan Daily is doing its part this week to widen the four-to-one media-to-delegate ratio at the Republican National Convention. Four veteran reporters - Sara An- spach, Joyce Frieden, Bonnie Juran, and Mitch Stuart - will provide special coverage of the Detroit festivities. Watch this page for their enlightening, unique reports on topics the major media will probably overlook.