The annual executive elections are almost due, and as usual we can expect to have to choose between a long list of candidates who are completely unknown to the average student. Students will stand and be elected with the votes of students who have never met the candidates concerned. No wonder there is such student apathy and no wonder so few students bother to vote at all. Under such conditions democracy breaks down and gives way to government by the ignorant.

Some effort must be made to introduce the candidates to the students. It is not enough to expect the voters to rely entirely on the "blurb" sheet brought out by "Salient", especially when we recall that the "blurbs" are usually written by the candidates themselves.

I would suggest that some responsible University organisation (might I suggest the Debating Society?) should arrange for five-minute lunch-hour addresses to be given by all of the various candidates, each address to be followed by the answering of questions. So that all candidates should have an opportunity to speak, the talks could be spread over a period of several days. The logical venue is the common common-room, as this would enable students to listen to the addresses at the same time as they eat their lunches.

If these suggestions are put into effect, we can expect to see much less apathy and a far greater enthusiasm among the students. Let us then stage an "election campaign" and follow this up with the biggest vote yet recorded.