Despite complaints from neighborhood associations about loud students who live off campus, the relationship between students and their neighbors is not as bad as it used to be, President Peter Likins said at the ASUA senate meeting yesterday.

Likins, who, along with Provost George Davis spoke to ASUA senators, said that in past years the relationship in neighborhoods verged on warfare. But this year the community is making a concerted effort to work together.

Likins blamed the lack of respect on alcohol.

"You are who you are, young people who are breaking from constraints and acting out in the exuberance of youth, Likins said. "That's not new and it's not going to stop."

At the same time he said he admits that it is the people across the street who suffer and do deserve sympathy.

Likins said it is impossible to eliminate the stress of the relationship between students and neighbors; learning to manage it is the key.

Likins also told senators about the Focused Excellence and the Changing Directions initiative, which now allows Arizona's three universities to develop distinctive identities and follow different missions.

"A historic change was released by regents when they adopted the changing directions initiative, our lives are tied in with the Board of Regents," said Likins. "Students are living in an historic moment, what we do with this opportunity depends on us."

He said that a change of this sort is not seen often, mentioning how he hasn't seen such a big policy change in Arizona in the past 12 months.

Likins said students should not feel displaced or threatened with all the changes because the research will still be student oriented and the tuition increases, which will gradually move the UA to 34th in the nation will be coupled with an increase in financial aid.

The initiative, approved by the board of regents last year, will gradually limit enrollment accepting the top 25 percent automatically rather then the top 50 percent cut academic programs that are weak, increase tuition, and increase financial aid. These changes are geared toward making the UA a more research-oriented university by focusing on its strengths while other Arizona universities pursue their own separate goals.

Likins said that at first the Arizona Board of Regents was not supportive of the plan, but now the regents' perceptions have changed.

When senators were given the opportunity to ask Likins and Davis questions, Senator Jacob Reuben started a discussion about cheating.

He asked whether the new E-tegrity program in the Eller College of Business and Public Administration has begun to decrease cheating at the UA.

The program, which was started this year, aims to instill students with a sense of ethical and academic responsibility.

Davis said he supported the new program, noting that the Eller College is always effective and quick to pick up on national issues and apply them to the UA campus.

Davis told senators that plagiarism has had to be redefined for students and that they need to be reminded of the UA's codes.

Cheating often depends on what a student's peers expect since many students want their peers approval, Likins said. Perhaps the key to preventing cheating is to create a more trusting environment in which it is expected that students would not cheat and that students would live up to those expectations.

ASUA senators approved six clubs' requests for funding that totaled $9,181.27.

One of those clubs, Persona Literary Magazine, initially had problems getting funding from ASUA because members of the appropriations committee thought that clubs are not eligible for funding if they receive over $500 from other UA departments, said Megan Hammer, director of appropriations for ASUA.

But the problem was remedied by changing the request to initial funding, allocated to help clubs start up, from special funding, which is given to clubs that sponsor events that benefit all students.

Senators said they were concerned about a $50 increase in funding that was given to the Bobcats Senior Honorary. The

honorary had already requested $7,814.30, the largest amount requested by a club in this round of funding.

The honorary had neglected to ask for funds that would be used for advertising. So the board gave them an increase, because they wanted to make sure the complete funds did not go to waste.

ASUA senators also approved the ASUA Pride Alliance's contract with a local band, Troy's Bucket. The band will play during the club's Ally Day events on Oct. 13.

The cost for the band was $400. The Pride Alliance already has the funds to cover the cost.

Ally Day's purpose is to provide information about UA clubs to students.