The University of Hawai'i-Manoa yesterday issued a campus security alert after a female student reported being fondled by a man on campus.

The assailant was described as about 5 feet 2 and 120 pounds, and was wearing a black/blue long-sleeved shirt, dark dress pants and dark shoes.

The student said she first noticed the man while walking near Puck's Alley when he asked her for the time. The man followed her to the UH music building at University Avenue and Dole Street, where he fondled her, the student said.

The woman screamed, ran to an office and reported the attack at 8:07 a.m.

Police opened a sex-assault investigation.

Anyone with suspect information is asked to call 911 or UH Campus Security at 956-6911.

FIRST CONVICTION UNDER COPPER LAW

Faleifa Mauga, 39, yesterday became the first man convicted under Hawai'i's new copper theft law.

Mauga pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft of copper and faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in February.

Police arrested him in September at a Navy housing demolition site near the airport.

Mauga also pleaded guilty to a trespassing charge yesterday before Judge Steven Alm.

As the price of copper has risen, so has the number of thefts of the metal around the state, with thieves stripping wiring from highway lighting systems and tearing copper pipes and gutters from public and private buildings.

The new copper theft law, enacted this year, makes it a felony to steal a pound or more of copper.

STATE PANEL MEETS TONIGHT, MONDAY

A panel looking into the preservation of Hawai'i's natural and environmental resources in the face of scientific and modern research will hold its final community meetings on O'ahu tonight and next week.

The state Temporary Advisory Commission on Bioprospecting will meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. tonight at Windward Community College's Akoakoa Room 101.

The final meeting will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Multi-purpose Room of the Wai'anae District Park.

The meetings are intended to help the commission make recommendations for developing policy relating to the emerging field of bioprospecting, defined tentatively by the commission as "the collection of samples from plants, animals, and microorganisms to search for commercially valuable biochemical or genetic resources."

For more information, contact Project Manager Yuko Chiba in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs at 594-1820.

SIGN-WAVERS ASK DRIVERS TO EASE UP

Teachers, parents and students will hold signs urging drivers to slow down outside Kapalama Elementary on Thursday morning.

Police will also join the group on Bernice Street.

The event is part of the AIG Hawaii "Hot Spots" campaign, designed to encourage safe driving in school zones.

The sign-waving will run from 7 to 8 a.m. The school is situated at 1601 N. School St., but the sign-waving will be held on the Bernice Street side of the campus.

INTRUDER FORCES ATM WITHDRAWAL

A 23-year-old man was arrested yesterday after he allegedly went to another man's home and forced him to drive to an ATM to withdraw money for him.

Police said a 44-year-old man was awakened at 5:45 a.m. by a knock on his bedroom window. The man went to the back door of his home, where he was met by a man demanding money.

The resident said he told the intruder that he had none, but would be willing to drive to a nearby ATM and withdraw money. The intruder reportedly allowed the resident to get into his car and drive to an ATM while he followed in another car.

While driving to the ATM, the resident called police, and responding officers arrested the other man on suspicion of second-degree robbery.

USS CROMMELIN LEAVING TODAY

The Pearl Harbor-based guided missile frigate USS Crommelin, will leave at 1 p.m. today for a deployment to the western Pacific.

The USS Crommelin is a multimission warship. It was originally designed to escort and protect convoys, underway replenishment groups, amphibious landing groups and carrier battle groups.