UH Issues Alert After Sex Assault

HONOLULU -- The University of Hawaii issued an e-mail alert to all students and faculty on Monday afternoon after a student reported a sexual assault on campus.

The incident started off campus a little after 8 a.m.

The student said she was walking near Puck's Alley when a man stopped her and asked for the time. The student said she told the man she did not know and she headed toward campus.

The student claimed the man followed her to the UH music building, where she said he touched her inappropriately, according to campus security.

The student said she screamed, ran into an office and called campus security.

The university sent out the e-mail alert just before 3 p.m.

Most students read it. KITV showed the e-mail to a few students who had not seen it.

"Things like that are always happening around campus. It makes me a little scared," UH sophomore Adrienne Panlilio said.

"It's kind of scary knowing that people around here are doing that," UH junior Erin Lewis said.

The e-mail alert has renewed student awareness of the dangers that lurk on and around campus. Some said it is a reminder of how important it is to be aware of your surroundings in broad daylight and at night.

"I just try not to walk alone anywhere -- try to stay with someone, not go out too late at night," Lewis said.

The man suspected in the attack is in his 20s, about 5 feet 2 inches tall and 120 pounds. He has short, black, wavy hair with fair to light skin color. He may be Asian and/or a Filipino mix, police said.

Anyone with information in the case should call UH campus security or the Honolulu Police Department.