For the first time since 1970, college freshmen are steering away from "middle-of-the-road" political ideology and raising their voices on issues that concern them the most, according to a national survey.

According to UCLA's Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP), 28.4 percent of freshmen identify themselves as liberals, the highest percentage since 1975. A record high of 23.9 percent of freshmen identify with conservative ideologies, the highest it has been since the initial survey in 1966.

According to the survey, both numbers have increased since 2005. The number of students who identify themselves as "middle-of-the-road" dropped by 1.7 percent, sending it to its lowest recorded point.

The findings of the survey, The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 2006, were based on characteristics of more than 270,000 first-year, full-time freshman students at 393 national four-year universities.

"This truly shows that students are taking a point of view, they aren't staying noncommittal or middle-of-the-road," Jessica Korn, CIRP project manager, said. "They are paying attention, and they know that voting and their voice matters."

The reasons for the changes can only be speculated, Korn said. She attributed the changes to "hot button items such as terrorism, the war in Iraq, marriage between gay and lesbian couples, abortion, the midterm election year and the upcoming presidential election."

This year's freshmen discussed political issues more often in their old high school classes and with friends, as well as demonstrated a concern for the financial demands of attending college, according to the survey.

Eric Plutzer, a political science professor, has other ideas as to why such strong opinions are forming, not only among freshmen, but also across the entire spectrum. Plutzer said he believes that as the nation becomes more polarized, freshmen follow the general trend.

"When politicians take clear positions on issues and the parties, they provide real choices to voters. It's natural that ordinary citizens -- including college freshmen -- will form opinions on the issues of the day ... With clear signals coming from elites, members of the public form clear positions," Plutzer said.

Dave DiDonato (freshman-civil engineering) said he wouldn't classify himself as a liberal or a conservative, but he does hold strong political opinions on issues that concern him the most.

DiDonato said he also enjoys discussing political and social issues, but never did so in his high school classes.

"I talk about politics with my dad -- I learn more from him," DiDonato said.

Tyler Blum (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said he took part in November's election.

"Besides feeling obligated, it was my parents bugging me to," Blum said, regarding his reasoning for voting.

Although Blum said he was coerced into voting, he will, at times, discuss political issues with his friends until things "get heated up." That's when, Blum said, "I'm not into it anymore."