For the first time in about 30 years, college freshmen are becoming more interested in politics, according to a report by an educational institute released Monday.

About 34 percent of students surveyed in fall 2003 said that following politics is important, compared to 28.1 percent in 2000, a record low, according to the 38th annual survey by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California-Los Angeles.

Jessica Hopkins, president of Penn State College Democrats, said two factors come to mind in relation to the increase.

"The first is that we are coming into a presidential election year, and we always see more interest in election years. The second, being that this is the highest rise in 30 years, it's interesting because the Vietnam war was going on at that time," Hopkins said.

She said the Iraq conflict is not necessarily comparable to Vietnam, but it causes division in politics and causes people to look at the issues.

The survey's data was based on responses of 276,449 students at 413 U.S. baccalaureate colleges and universities.

Students were surveyed upon entering school in the fall, and their responses were based on their behaviors and ideologies from the previous year, which in most cases was their senior year in high school.

"I think the biggest factor in determining students' involvement with politics is where they grow up and how they grow up," said Brian Battaglia, president of Penn State's College Republicans.

Joyce Olsen (graduate-speech and language pathology) said she is in her second year of graduate school, and the time that has passed since her freshman year has been significant in shaping her thoughts.

"Just over the years, you learn so much. You could not be interested in something as a freshman but then learn more about it and really care four years later."

Jason Smutz (freshman-psychology) said he thinks it would be interesting to hear a follow-up report in four years from those surveyed in the study this fall.

"I think a lot would change. Students are graduating, and they are depending more on the government for stuff," Smutz said.

Hopkins said it's hard for her to say whether she thinks students' ideas change after four years in college.

"You would probably see some people that are more involved, but you would also see some people who become cynical when they get more involved and drop out of politics," Hopkins said.

Julie Jones (freshman-elementary education) said she doesn't consider herself a political person, but she registered to vote this year.

Jones said she agrees that the upcoming election and the Iraq war have been two events that called attention to the political spotlight.

"I'm registered as a Democrat, but as far as being a liberal or conservative, I'm in the middle," Jones said.

While there has been a shift in political interest, the survey also reported a shift to more students labeling themselves as conservatives than in the past.

In 2003, 22.7 percent of those surveyed identified themselves as conservatives, up from 21.3 percent in 2002. The percentage of liberal freshmen is still higher at 24.2 percent, but it decreased from 25.3 percent in 2002.

"I think students and people in general have tended to become more conservative because of recent events dealing with security and terrorist attacks," Battaglia said.

One figure that has remained fairly consistent over the past couple of years is the percentage of freshmen that considers themselves in the middle, around 50 percent.

Hopkins said more voters are less interested in being involved with one party and more interested in being Independents.

"The political pendulum swings back and forth," she said. "About 30 years ago, liberals dominated, then in the '80s was the era of Reaganism. Overall there maintains an equilibrium, which is part of the natural progression of politics."