Members of Tempe's Ad Hoc Rental Housing Task Force debated ASU's responsibilities in addressing off-campus noise and behavior problems during a meeting Tuesday.
Several members said ASU should strengthen the Arizona Board of Regents Student Code of Conduct to give the University more jurisdiction over off-campus behavior issues involving students.
But ASU officials and one student said the University should not be confused with law enforcement.
Bill Regner, a member of the task force, said the code of conduct wasn't strong enough to really help Tempe.
"Participation of the University is in the solution [to rental housing issues]," Regner said. "We hope the University will go back and extend the definitions [of the code of conduct] in the community."
ASU, NAU and UA are considering revising the code of conduct to strengthen rules for off-campus behavior, said Deborah Sullivan, director of the ASU Office of Student Life.
"There's going to be some language that addresses off-campus issues," Sullivan said after the meeting.
But Sullivan said ASU's community outreach program -- which handles concerns between the University and other communities -- would not replace police.
Task force member and ASU student Ed Hermes said he agreed ASU should not be treated as a law enforcement agency.
"[The University] doesn't have the resources or jurisdiction, at this time, to handle police issues," he added. "That's what we pay our taxes for."
In response to ongoing issues involving rental housing, the city asked ASU to help address issues involving students, such as loud parties.
The Office of Student Life will work with students causing problems in neighborhoods, but are limited by the code of conduct as to what behaviors ASU can discipline, Sullivan said.
Stephanie Salazar, ASU community outreach liaison, handles complaints of off-campus behavior issues.
Salazar said she meets with students who may be disrupting neighborhoods. But ASU has limited power to take action against students in such cases.
Some actions, such as selling drugs, could result in a student being expelled from ASU, Sullivan said. Serious crime is "prohibited conduct," which may be addressed by the University, regardless of where it took place, she added.
Reach the reporter at emilia.arnold@asu.edu.
