MALLORY LORING/ Arizona Daily Wildcat UAPD Cmdr. Brian Seastone is an honorary adult senator in the ASUA senate, a position he has held for the past eight years.

As ASUA tries to tackle the problems between students and neighbors, they're turning to a fellow senator whom no one voted into office.

Cmdr. Brian Seastone of the UAPD has been the honorary adult senator in the ASUA senate for the past eight years.

Usually at Wednesday senate meetings, he sits quietly off to the side, but when a debate arises among the senators, he often pipes in to clarify an issue or offer some insight they might not otherwise have discussed.

This year, senators have been turning to him for help concerning how students can become better neighbors.

"It's good because it's not like the senators are asking a random police officer questions," said Senator Morgan Kisler. "Seastone is a good contact to have in the police department."

Concerning neighbor-student relations, Seastone said he has been able to use his position at UAPD to provide contact information for the senators.

Seastone is a good resource when it comes to dealing with the conflict between students and neighbors. He is an expert because he faces underage drinking everyday, said Melanie Rainer, ASUA executive vice president.

Seastone said that he has not yet been offering advice, but rather he has just been answering senators' general questions, such as who should be invited to the forum that will bring together students and neighbors on Feb 3.

"I'll serve as a resource as best as possible, depending on where they want to go," Seastone said.

But the help goes both ways.

"The position really helps me because I can bring back their concerns to the department," Seastone said.

Seastone devotes a couple of hours assisting the 10 ASUA senators, while serving over 40 hours a week overseeing daily patrol and investigations.

The ASUA president and executive vice president choose the honorary senator and the senate approves the appointment.

"We thought about asking other people, but if he wants to be here then we want him here," Rainer said. "He has a lot of experience and is extremely dedicated."

Rainer said that he helps senators to look at all sides of an issue.

"He's there to provide us with outside opinion; he plays devil's advocate," Rainer said.

He wants to help senators but he will tell them straight up if their project isn't going to happen, Kisler said.

Seastone also serves as a resource for senators who have questions relating to safety issues.

For example, senators have asked about lighting on campus, adding more emergency blue light phones, and escort services.

Seastone said that the job provides him with a continuous learning experience.

"Everyday is a learning experience up there," Seastone said. "I learn and am amazed by how many things students can juggle and still keep up their academic scores."

Having a member of the UAPD serve as an ASUA senator has also enabled ASUA and UAPD to work together on projects.

In the past, senators have helped UAPD by earmarking funds for rape whistle key chains.

This year senators will be helping UAPD with the "campus disaster" on Nov. 18.

Campus disaster will be a mock disaster created by TPD and UAPD in order to test the emergency response systems.

The senators will be playing a role in the campus disaster but do not yet know

exactly what they will be doing.

Even though it's his eighth consecutive year serving as senator, Seastone said he still feels fortunate for the position.

"It's a great opportunity to get a little more involved in the community, various presidents ask me to serve and I am very fortunate to have such an opportunity," he said.

Seastone plans on remaining senator at least through this year.

"I enjoy it very much," he said.