THE FACTS: After the window for submitting to run for office in the upcoming spring elections closes at 5 p.m., candidates will be set to campaign starting two weeks prior to elections April 6.OUR OPINION: Campaign finance rules must be enforced to guarantee the quality of candidates and the legitimacy of the democratic process.At 5 p.m., the window for submitting intent-to-run forms for the upcoming Student Government elections closes — the campaigns will begin soon. If students still want to run, the time to register is now.Yet even with the myriad of issues our campus faces, campaign finance, though seemingly small, is certainly an issue to be concerned about. With the budget cuts, reduction in available courses and controversial projects like the Talley Student Center renovation, students are entitled to elect representatives that will serve as their voice for the upcoming year. The last thing students need is a group of candidates who are beholden to a specific interest group and steer Student Government away from defendng student interests and causes. Campaign finance can help level the playing field and ensure students get the representation they deserve.Election officials need to be ready to throw the book at any candidate who exceeds finance limits — this ensures students can get the best candidates with the best solutions to the problems the University faces.The student body statutes clearly define campaign finance limits and the punishments for violations. Candidates who submit falsified reports or exceed campaign finance limits are subject to a disqualification hearing. It is incumbent upon the election oversight committee, the candidates and any studnt who cares and believes in the democratic process to report any violations that might indicate a candidate should be disqualified.The election committee must also be prepared to crack the whip and ignore any and all attempts to conceal or misrepresent violations of campaign finance regulations. Again, the committee should repeatedly remind all office seekers of their responsibilities as candidates as listed by the student body statutes: “Ignorance of a regulation shall not be acceptable as a defense to violation of a rule. Candidates shall be responsible for the actions of their staff and supporters.” If the evidence shows a candidate to be guilty of a disqualifying action, then disqualification cannot be an idle threat.The spring elections are not like the national elections for the presidential office and Congress. We do not have a ridiculously complex system that allows for private interests to provide enormous sums of money to candidates. Nonetheless, we must be ready to take all the necessary steps to defend the integrity of our democratic process, no matter what election is taking place. Campaign finance limits are designed to make it easier for the average student to have a shot in elections, and only enforcing such limits will keep the process fair.