President Peter Likins is no longer being considered as a mediator between students and campus-area neighbors because ASUA senators think he's biased.

Likins was the leading candidate to mediate between students and the community during ASUA's planned forum on Feb. 3 of next year.

But ASUA decided to search for someone else because they thought Likins would be inclined to defend the university, ASUA Sen. Sara Birnbaum said.

"Likins would need to defend the UA, so he isn't unbiased," Birnbaum said.

The forum will bring in community members, students, administrators and local law enforcement officers to discuss student parties around the campus and their effects on everyone concerned.

Defending the UA and its actions is exactly what Likins has had to do as the conflict between students and the community becomes a conflict between him and the community.

In the past, Likins has told neighbors that the university is not responsible for students living off campus.

"I understand their anger," Likins said. "They want someone to do something and they turn to the UA, but there are practical and legal constraints."

Likins said that student drinking is the primary reason for problems, but the UA can't control it any more than it can control a sophomore who goes to L.A. and gets drunk.

"You can't be legally expected to do something when it's not in your environment," Likins said.

Neighbors have supported ASUA's attempts at having a forum, but they still would like to see the UA and Likins do something.

"I am glad that somebody is doing it," said Dyer Lytle, Jefferson Association president. "I would have liked to see the university go and do something like this earlier, but they didn't and that's too bad."

A lack of action by the UA in the past has led campus-area neighbors to take actions of their own.

They have acquired realtors whose goals are to make the neighborhoods more owner-occupied.

They sent a letter to Likins expressing the desire to have him enforce the code of conduct to off-campus students.

For example, it might be possible for students who have multiple offenses, like being continuously red tagged, to be disciplined by the UA for their behavior, Lytle said.

The code of conduct deals only with student gambling, violence and selling of drugs when it comes to off-campus activities.

Some neighbors believe it should be changed so that students are expelled from the university if they are caught twice for underage drinking. Others believe they should at least receive warnings or be required to do public service.

"Try something and, if that doesn't work, try something worse," Lytle said.

Likins said that there are no plans to change the student code of conduct.

"I doubt it will be changed because it would become impractical," Likins said. "You don't make rules you can't enforce. Rules that aren't enforced create a sense that you're not serious."

Neighbors said they have heard this before.

"I hear that a lot, but I want to see a document that says it's not possible," Lytle said. "Give us a scenario. Why is it impractical? Why is it illegal?"

The ball is in Likins' court, Lytle said.

Right now the UA is only involved in off-campus student behavior through the UAPD and their relationship with the Tucson Police Department.

UAPD has provided information to TPD regarding campus-area parties and date dashes.

Ultimately, if a bunch of students are causing trouble off campus, it is TPD that has to be called. UAPD has no authority to enforce the law unless they are called upon by TPD, Likins said.

Even though the UA itself will not be taking action, Likins said he is impressed by ASUA's attempts at remedying the situation.

"Students will respond to other students and change their behavior," Likins said. "If they can get it across that it's not cool to be obnoxious, that's the real heart of the message."

Likins said that ASUA's involvement should produce positive results because neighbors will see students trying to do something good.

He also had some advice to offer to ASUA as they try and resolve the issues.

"It's not a problem that gets totally solved; it just gets managed," Likins said. "Advice I would give is to listen carefully and understand neighbors' concerns, and be realistic in understanding what ASUA can do."