Annually, during orientation, a questionnaire prepared by the American Council on Education is administered to the entering freshmen class at the University of South Carolina. (This questionnaire also is administered at approximately 75 two-year colleges, 245 four-year colleges, and 44 universities across the U.S.) The data collected on the questionnaire yields summary results on entering freshmen at U.S.C. as well as weighted normative data from the participating universities. This document focuses on the item in the questionnaire termed "current political preference." The document examines the political preferences of U.S.C. entering freshmen over a six-year period between 1969 and 1974 and provides a comparison with national norms. In addition, analyses on the bases of sex and state residency are given. The document concludes by summarizing the trends observed over the six-year period. Findings are that in 1969, U.S.C entering freshmen were less "left" and more "middle-of-the-road" and "right" in their political preferences than were their national counterparts. However, the extent of differences has diminished between 1969 and 1974, with U.S.C. and the national norms becoming almost identical in 1974. (Author/KE)