OUR OPINION: Candidates need both a substantive platform and engaging campaign to get students to care enough to vote.The campaign season for various Student Government offices opened two weeks ago. Yet if it wasn’t for the few signs candidates have put up around campus, students might not even know an election was coming up.This is ridiculous — students already believe Student Government has at best a minimal effect on University affairs, despite the fact they pay $8.85, soon to be raised to $10.85, to fund its efforts.Using the estimates for the 2008-2009 Student Government budget and the assumption 26,000 students will pay the fee, that amounts to $282,100 under Student Government control.Candidates for all offices need to show their committment to the positions they are running for and get students to care enough to vote, and no office should go uncontested. In particular, those running for major offices need to talk to as many students as they can and offer reasonable campaign promises that benefit students as much as possible.This is not an unreasonable thing to ask of any of the candidates — students will not care about the elections unless given reason to do so.The candidates may wish to take some lessons from Whil Piavis, the Pirate Captain, who was student body president four years ago — he created a dynamic, engaging campaign that students paid attention to. He also gave them plenty of face time, while falling short in keeping campaign promises.A better example would be last year’s campaign for student body president. John Mickey made shirts in the Brickyard and invited students to talk with him, Bobby Mills ate dinner at dining halls and Student Body President Jay Dawkins drove the Farmhouse truck around campus during his campaign –  he estimated he spent about eight to 10 hours each day planning for his campaign and getting face time with students.And to say Student Government has not accomplished anything this year would be foolish — Student Government has played a part in getting the WolfProwl night service to downtown running, organized Campout and reformed the ticketing system.This election has just as much promise, and may bring new ideas in, as only two candidates have prior involvement with Student Government. But unless the candidates show that students can use the various Student Government offices for their benefit, then students have no inclination to care, much less vote. Candidates: get out into the Brickyard, on Centennial and other major areas on campus. Put forth the effort and give students reasonable platforms for campus change and improvement. And don’t expect a small number of signs to cut it.