Candidates for Interfraternity Council offices emphasized the restructuring of the rush process and the importance of academics and communication between chapters and officers at an IFC meeting last night.

Candidate Rich Haines said that, if elected IFC president, he would encourage chapters to "steal from the rich and give to the poor" -- to communicate among chapters about what works at their house to benefit the whole community.

Haines, president of Alpha Chi Rho, 329 E. Prospect Ave., also described a five-year plan that would include expanding the Academic Consultant Program, evaluating the effectiveness of IFC committees, and increasing fraternities' awareness of IFC.

IFC Vice President for Relations Mike Steinberg, also a candidate for president, said he would like to see a less formal rush and proposed to hold the orientation mixer in East Halls.

Steinberg also said a better image for the IFC Board of Control is imperative to improve relations between chapters and IFC. He suggested IFC house checkers educate pledges, social chairs and presidents about their policies.

If elected president, Jamie Horowitz, IFC vice president of philanthropic affairs, said he would also work to make rush less formal, giving men a better chance to be themselves.

"Let us be open with the people we want to be brothers," Horowitz said, adding that running the Undergraduate Student Government Weekend Loop during rush would help bring men out to more houses.

Although candidate Jim Toth, president of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity, 420 E. Prospect Ave., has no IFC experience, he said his background with reorganizing his suspended fraternity would help him "get IFC back on its feet."

Toth also spoke of emphasizing academics through individual chapter scholarship programs. "If you know your house will get a scholarship, there will be an incentive" to excel, he said.

Candidate David Lieberman said that more interaction between presidents at smaller meetings and a closer IFC executive council would provide a less intimidating atmosphere at meetings, he said.

Lieberman, president of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, 238 E. Fairmount Ave., also said that if elected he wants to create a more positive image of the Greek system within the community.

Steve Castor, treasurer of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, 508 Locust Lane, the sole candidate for IFC administrative vice president, said that, in the past, great ideas have been proposed but nothing has been done.

"Let's just do them," Castor said.

The three candidates for IFC treasurer also spoke: Matt Campbell of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, 200 E. Beaver Ave.; Mike Wasco, member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity,329 E. Beaver Ave.; and Greg Partridge of Triangle fraternity, 226 E. Beaver Ave.

IFC elections will be held February 7.