A record low 26.7 percent of college freshmen in 1997 believe keeping up with politics is important, compared to a high of 57.8 percent in 1966, according to a survey conducted by UCLA for the American Council on Education.”Our age has the lowest voter turnout and ignorance towards politics and what’s going on,” said Kurt Graupmann, a senior majoring in history. The study is based on the responses of 252,082 freshmen at 464 of the nation’s two and four-year colleges and universities.”I think that the report is somewhat accurate,” Graupmann said. “I don’t think people care.”John Carney, USG president, blames today’s politicians for the apathy so prevalent among college students.”Our generation doesn’t necessarily think that politicians are reaching out to students to find out what their needs are,” Carney said. “I think that is a reason for students to be disheartened and skeptical about politics.”The study found while only 13.7 percent of college freshmen frequently discuss politics, 16.1 percent frequently smoke.Molly Crabill, an undecided freshman, agrees with the study.”Certain things come up in my hometown that a couple of friends and I talk about, but we don’t get into huge political debates,” she said.In 1968, 76.9 percent of students in the study frequently voted in school elections, compared to 23 percent in 1996 and 21.3 percent in 1997.Students are apathetic because they don’t think they can make a difference, said Amy Miller, a senior majoring in agricultural education.In last year’s USG election at Ohio State, only 2,975 valid votes and 634 valid web votes were cast, according to Chad Rothbart, co-director of elections for USG. “I’m not voting in the next USG election because I’m graduating and it really won’t apply to me,” said Steve Havanas, a senior majoring in English. “But, I can see why people would want to vote.”Voting gives students a voice to be active in university decisions, like keeping student fees low, he said.The study found that while 35.2 percent believe that marijuana should be legalized, only 31.8 percent are committed to racial understanding.”Everyone is motivated differently,” said Chris Ellison, president of the College Republicans at OSU. “I hate increases in taxes and the destruction of the moral fiber.”