University of Hawai'i-Manoa officials are asking for more than $1.5 million to help beef up security on campus following two break-ins and an assault at campus housing this month.

Included in a supplemental budget request made to the UH Board of Regents is about $1 million for 18 additional security guards and equipment, including radios and bicycles, Vice Chancellor for Administration Kathy Cutshaw said yesterday.

The university is also asking for about $500,000 to improve parking lot lighting and $75,000 to create a student patrol program, she said.

The regents are expected to decide on the request at their September meeting.

The increased number of guards and bikes will allow for additional patrols on campus, including the university's residence halls, which house about 3,000 students, she said. There are currently about 33 security guards, including four on bike patrol, she said.

Meanwhile, the Associated Students of the University of Hawai'i, which represents undergraduate students on campus, said it will ask the regents to investigate the use of security funds on campus.

The students' group is concerned about Manoa security funds that were used to secure Bachman Hall two years ago during protests against the U.S. Navy University Affiliated Research Center.

"There was money for security years ago, but it never made it to the students. ASUH will continue its investigation and requests administrators take responsibility for their decisionmaking," said ASUH Vice President Laura Saiki in a news release.

Cutshaw said the Manoa administration has the responsibility to secure every building on campus, including Bachman Hall, which is used primarily by UH system-level administration and houses President David McClain's office.

"We're responsible for keeping all of the students, faculty and staff safe," Cutshaw said.

The increased concern about security comes after two break-ins this month, one of which involved an assault against an 18-year-old freshman dorm resident.

The attack of a female resident of Mokihana hall was reported to police at 5:50 a.m. Aug. 19. The student told officials she awoke to find someone in her room who pushed a pair of scissors against her face. The intruder grabbed her and pushed her onto the bed, but the victim screamed and fought, scaring off the attacker.

The university responded with increased security measures at the residence halls, including more frequent patrols and round-the-clock manning of front desks at the freshman towers.

Officials are also considering three possible security changes: hiring additional security guards, working with the state sheriff's office or Honolulu police to place a substation on campus or creating a campus police force.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.