The requirement of the constitution of the Junior and Sophomore classes that candidates for class officers shall be nominated by petition, and that only when insufficient nominations are secured by this means shall the class officers make additional nominations are secured by this means shall the class officers make additional nominations, has proved inadequate in recent class elections. The manner in which this constitutional provision worked in the 1920 and 1921 elections shows clearly that an amendment to the organic law of these classes might well be made.

On Tuesday there were eighteen candidates for the six major offices of 1920 and 1921. Of this number five were nominated by petitions in the Sophomore class, while of the Junior nominees none were chosen by petition. When the lists of candidates for election, largely selected by the class officers in accordance with the constitution, were made public, there remained no further opportunity for nominations by petition.

In theory the present system is ideal. Let the class by petition choose its candidates for office. Let the class officers add to this list of nominees only when it is necessary. But in practice, because, perhaps, of a persisting apathy in class affairs, the law as it stands leaves the class with the majority, or as in the case of 1920, with all, of its nominees chosen by a very few men.

The method of conducting Senior elections suggests a simple remedy. Merely reverse the system. Have the class officers nominate men for each office, two weeks, for example, previous to the election. Then allow nominations by petition to be made until within a few hours of the balloting. Confronted by a list of candidates, the class would add more nominees, if it so desired, and if petitions were not forthcoming, approval of the nominations by the class officers would be silently signified.

Other methods doubtless could be found from which beneficial results would accrue. In any case, let there be such changes made that henceforth the responsibility for class nominations will not be forced upon one, two, or at best three men.