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A family heirloom engagement ring was lost and found within a day because of the integrity of BYU-Hawaii students and the network of Facebook.The owner of the ring, recently engaged Gabriela Rodier, a junior from California studying exercise and sports science, said it was lost around noon on Feb. 25. “The ring is two sizes too big on me, and we hadn’t gotten it sized since we are far away from everything. I was in the GCB bathroom and took it off to wash my hands. I guess I walked away from it. I went to my next class and mentioned something about being engaged. I looked down at my hand mid-sentence, realized my ring was gone, and took off to find it. I didn’t even finish my sentence.”Rodier said she had thought it slipped off on the way to class, so she and fellow students retraced her steps and combed through grass areas with their hands. She said she went to the library to find her fiancé, Daniel Garity, a freshman from Oklahoma studying social work. Rodier said, “He was really good to me. He was like, ‘It’s okay. It’s fine. If we don’t find it, I’ll give you a lifetime supply of ring pops.’” Garity shared his perspective of the library meeting: “She came to me and looked super scared. I didn’t know what was happening, and she said she couldn’t find the ring. I was really worried that my mom would find out. It was my mother’s ring. She gave it to me to give to Gabby, and because of that, the ring had a lot more significance.”He added they had thought about making it a tradition to give their future son the ring when the time comes for him to propose. Rodier and Garity said they immediately reported it to Security, and told everyone about it as they searched. Rodier said, “So many teachers and people we didn’t even know helped look. In my next class, Brother Carter told me I could go look, and then they all prayed for me. Pictures of the ring on Facebook started going around, and it was just amazing how much people wanted to help.”Rodier said, “I was devastated. It’s the most precious possession I’ve ever owned. It’s the most expensive, sentimental, romantic thing I’ve ever had in my entire life, and I lost it within a month of being engaged. I was thinking my future mother-in-law is going to hate me. I thought I was never going to see it again, so I was pretty torn up. I have never lived in a place where you could lose something so precious and have it returned to you.”Lucky for Rodier and Garity, BYU-Hawaii is a place where something precious can be returned. Diane Fotu, a sophomore from Tonga studying elementary education, saw the ring on the counter of the GCB bathroom and picked it up, thinking someone must be missing it. In the evening, she showed it to Tonga Sablan, a senior from Washington studying international cultural studies.Sablan said, “I took a picture of it and put it on Facebook asking whose it was and when and where they lost it. I posted it, and an hour later I checked back with a lot of comments.” He said he was tagged in Garity’s Facebook post, and commented saying Diane Fotu had the ring. In a joking manner, Sablan said to Garity, “I better get an invite, or be in either one of your lines.”When Garity heard about the news around 11 p.m., he said he busted into his fiancée’s house and told her. Rodier said, “It was like getting engaged again. I was so happy. I needed to hug everyone. I couldn’t believe it.” The following morning, Rodier said she met up with Fotu to get the ring, bringing boxes of chocolate in appreciation. Fotu said, “When she gave me the box of chocolates, she told me I could have sold it for a couple hundred bucks, but that thought didn’t even occur to me. My parents taught me better.”Charles Teriipaia, a shift supervisor for BYUH Security, said, “This is the first lost engagement ring we’ve had. I think it is commendable of the students to turn it in. We tried to help, but it really is all about the integrity of the students. There are a lot of good students out there.”Reflecting on the experience, Rodier said, “I wanted to thank everyone, not even just the people who helped find the ring, but just everyone that makes this campus a place that you can lose something that is worth that much money and have hope that it would be returned, and actually have it be returned. I think that is such a great blessing.” Uploaded March 11, 2015

Twitter has taken a new approach to handling cyber-bullying by expanding features to target hacking and impersonations. According to Buzzfeed, Twitter is polling users asking if any have ever experienced abuse on any social network, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. According to CNET, Dick Costolo, CEO of Twitter, released a statement in early February saying, the company hasn't been good "at dealing with abuse and trolls on the platform ... for years. It’s not a secret and the rest of the world talks about it every day. We lose core user after core user by not addressing simple trolling issues that they face every day.” Costolo made it clear that Twitter struggles with controlling the issues of abuse and the company is well aware of it. Gabby Sabalones, a senior majoring in international cultural studies from Indiana, explained her thoughts on cyber-bullying: “I just found out recently that this has become a problem. I think it is sad. Something about the Internet is that it makes it so you think that nobody knows who you are; it takes away your face and so somehow in our minds it takes away responsibility too. The things people say on comments on YouTube is horrible because they are real people.”Other students find it interesting as to why Twitter is starting to attempt to take control of the situation. Cambria Graves, a sophomore majoring in international cultural studies from Colorado, said, “I don’t know if [Twitter] can do anything about it because people are mean in general but, I think it is something important to know because it is their site that people are posting these things on. I don’t know if they can do anything about it, but just knowing what is going on and the extent of the bullying is important.” Shenia Jacobo, a senior majoring in international cultural studies from Arizona, agrees with Graves. Jacobo said, “You can’t have social media without cyber-bullying. It only makes sense though, because people bully and say hurtful things against each other on Twitter and other social media [sites]. By Twitter doing this, they are taking the issue and trying to figure out how they can work it out and be a part of the solution. I am sure they are well aware that their users abuse each other.” Uploaded March 10, 2015

No more “New music Tuesday,” a day in the United States dedicated to the release of albums from artists, says the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. IFPI made the decision to make a switch to “New music Friday,” after conducting a public poll. It will make "New music Friday" official starting the Summer of 2015.The CEO of IFPI, Frances Moore, explained in an official statement this decision has been made “because it is what our consumers want. They want music when it’s available on the Internet - not when it’s ready to be released in their country.” Moore also suggested, “Global release day is about celebrating new music. By creating a single day for new releases across the world, it’s an opportunity to re-awaken the excitement and anticipation of new music everywhere.”Moore also believes “the global release day narrows the gap on piracy by making it less likely that consumers will go to pirate sites when they can get new releases in their country.”New music Tuesday has been an American custom since April of 1989, according to Billboard. The new global release date is now set for Friday so that all countries can release their music at the same time. Hailey Page, a junior majoring in exercise science from California, said, “I think it would be cool for us to hear music from people all around the world. It is kind of cool to know that if I am really bored on Friday I can check it out from different places.”Others students do not necessarily feel like this change will make a big difference. Wealthia Apao, a junior majoring in piano performance from the Philippines, said, “Overall, I think it is a good decision. I don’t think it is really a big deal if music is released on a certain day.” Graceanne Warburton, a sophomore majoring in history from Nevada agreed. Warburton said, “It doesn’t really affect me whether or not it is released on Tuesday or Friday. Music is still music. Not that much of a delay because everything is so instant.”Uploaded March 10, 2015

The World Surfing League, the yearlong tour that showcases the world’s top surfers from around the globe, has kicked off its season in Australia the first week of March. Surf fans from around the world have tuned in via webcast, television and in person to witness the spectacle of talent that is professional surfing. Students and surfers at BYU-Hawaii are looking forward to seeing the younger generation take the reigns from the long time veterans of the sport on tour and dominate the competition. Scott Messick, a senior studying business said, “The younger generation on tour are just figuring out how to find the middle ground with free surf and strategy out there in their heats. The older guys like Kelly Slater (11x World Champ) and Mick Fanning (3x World Champ) still shred, but they do the same things every heat. That's what's so special about the younger guys like John John Florence, Kolohe Andino, and Gabriel Medina; they bring the rail game, along with the air game.”Luke Facer, a junior studying biology from California said, “Seems like the younger guys are starting to make a good run for the title. All the normal top contenders and past title winners like Joel Parkinson, Taj Burrow, Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning are beginning to fade. I think they just have a couple more years to possibly get another title. Then it’s going to be all the young guns. The older guys are not out of the race yet though. They have been training hard during the off-season and come with a lot of experience that the younger boys on tour don’t have. Facer believes things could sway Fanning’s way this year again. He said, “I think that Mick Fanning, who came in second last year, is hungry for another world title and he was so close last year. He is fired up to take it. So far in the first couple of heats he looks on point.”The World Surfing League’s yearlong season moves to some of the world’s top surf locations to test the skills and talents of the world’s best surfers. This year’s tour starts in Australia and will move to places such as South Africa, California, Fiji, Tahiti and Hawaii throughout the year. Facer said, “Jeffery’s Bay, South Africa is one of my favorite spot to watch. It has everything, sections for big turns and radical moves as well as barrels and air sections. It is a wave that really shows the weaknesses and strengths of the surfers.” Many from around the island feel a special connection to the Hawaiian surfers on tour and are always hoping to see a good result from them. “John John is one of my favorites to watch,” said Ikaika Kaulukukui from Kaneohe. “He is explosive, unpredictable and does really well to represent our island. He understands waves of consequence and shows the world what Hawaii is producing.”Gabriel Medina was last year’s title winner and will be fighting to defend the title again this year. Messick said, “JJF is going to take this year's title. No question. He has been surfing so well for the past six months. He has grown up a bit and puts some strategy into his heats now and doesn't just free surf.”Watch all the World Surf League action online at www.worldsurfleague.com.Uploaded March 10, 2015

Vans, the company that supplied the original waffle sole grip shoe, has recently reached $2 billions in revenue, reported the Orange County Register. Vans has become an iconic company in the surf, skate and action sports industry. Students agree Vans has become an everyday shoe that has influenced the action sports world for the better. “I like the way that they look and that they can go universally with just about anything. You can wear them skating, running and even dancing. They give off a pretty relaxed vibe but they are still the original skate shoe,” said Jeff Facer, a junior from California studying business. According to Vans.com, on March 16, 1966, Paul Van Doren and his three partners opened up their first ever store in Anaheim, Calif., and the Vans dream was born. The Van Doren Rubber Company was unique in that it manufactured shoes and sold them directly to the public. On that first morning, 12 customers purchased shoes, which were made that day and ready for pick-up in the afternoon. Vans has continued to grow and is now a household name around the world. “Vans is one of the companies that helped the skate community to grow and become what it is today. Now they are getting a lot more involved in the surfing world too. They sponsor athletes from all around the world helping to spread the good vibes of Vans with everyone,” said Facer. According to Vans.com, in just 10 years, the action-sports brand has gone from about $320 million in revenue to $2 billion, a growth rare in an industry that has seen its share of downfalls in recent years. The latest figures put Vans on top of the food chain for the action-sports industry, surpassing surfing giants like Quiksilver and Billabong.Seth Young, a recent graduate from Arizona, said, “I feel like Vans are a shoe you can still wear even when they're torn up and it's still cool, maybe even cooler that way to some people. I think they used to be more for skaters or surfers but they've expanded a lot to meet the hipster demand.”Vans shoes are appealing to all types of people now. Skater, surfers, boys, girls, just about everyone is familiar with Vans, said Alex Krohnfeldt, a senior studying exercise science from California. “I wear Vans everyday. Personally, I love Vans. I have about 12 different pairs. Vans represents a mix of style and comfort and are shoes you can do anything in. I've always worn the classic lace ups. I love Vans because they fit my style and are comfy but still cute,” she said.Uploaded March 10, 2015

A recent report revealed that BYU Provo’s Marriott School was valued to have the best MBA program in the country, according to the Business Insider. According to the report done by financial firm M7 Financial, BYU pulls out in front of Harvard.According to the M7 Financial website, it created its financial rankings of top MBA programs by the ability of the average student to pay student loans when after graduation comes around. Assigning a letter grade, it examined schools to see which would be best for students. From the recent report, Harvard and other prestigious schools such as Stanford and Duke, received an A in the report. Schools such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale, and Duke’s MBA programs received A-. Out of the entire list, the BYU Marriott program was the only one to earn an A+.“Harvard. It’s the best of the best, the cream of the crop. As far as academics stands, it’s a very prestigious school,” said Michael Meile, a graduate in IT from Nevada. “To hear that BYU, a church institution, was ranked up there, at first it’s surprising but then you think because of the characteristics that exist there, why not?”M7 calculations gave BYU’s Marriott School an A+ due to the fact that students’ loan obligations are modest in comparison to initial career prospects, according to Business Insider. A BYU graduate would earn an average salary of $110,216, and only sustained a debt of $27,924 on average. In comparison, Harvard’s graduates earn an average salary of $138,924 but even greater debt of $73,926. M7 also calculated in their report how quickly a graduate would be able to pay off loans, and how burdensome a debt could become. Job prospects upon graduating were also examined. Although Harvard has a high employment rate after graduation, students at the Marriott School also have high ratings and good paying jobs, according to the Business Insider. “I think being a member of the church is a big part of it. People look at you differently with a religion. People want to hire LDS. I feel like I could have a job offer easier by being a member of the church,” said Brian Hung, a graduate in math from Hong Kong. Sergelenbaatar Oyungerel, a freshman in accounting in Mongolia, said about the report, “I think it doesn’t matter what school you go to. It’s from you and how you study and how you try to learn things.”Uploaded March 10, 2015

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson told reporters the city was making a formal apology to Tamir Rice’s family and the people of Cleveland for the wording in the legal filing of the 12-year-old boy’s death, which said the death of Tamir, who was shot by police in November, was the sixth grader’s own fault. “We did something that… is hurtful to the family, that is disrespectful to them and the victim as well as the city of the Cleveland,” Jackson said.“I accept Jackson’s apology for what it was. A PR stunt. Plain and simple. It would have been better if the police officer had apologized for killing a 12-year-old,” said Dom Lacroix, a junior majoring in biology. Though Jackson pushed for an immediate rewording of the legal filing, Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the Rice family, said the mayor’s apology didn’t go far enough. Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann fired the fatal shots at Tamir in November. Reports said shots were fired not more than two seconds after arrival at a playground where Tamir was playing with a pellet gun. Tamir’s mother, Samaria Rice, told CNN, “They never even gave him a chance. The whole world has seen the same video like I've seen, and I'm sure the whole world is saying, 'You guys never gave him a chance.' With that being said, it can never be justified."Cuyahoga County’s medical examiner has ruled the death of Tamir Rice a homicide but has issued no statement determining the events leading to Tamir’s death a crime or not. “I’m tired of finding out another person who looks like me was killed. I’m tired and my people are tired,” said Talaya Banks, a freshman majoring in psychology. In the response to the Rice family’s lawsuit, the city said Tamir’s injuries, “were directly and proximately caused by the failure of Plaintiffs' decedent to exercise due care to avoid injury.” Furthermore, the response said, Plaintiffs' decedent's injuries, losses, and damages complained of, were directly and proximately caused by the acts of Plaintiffs' decedent, not this Defendant." “I believe there are good people who are good cops. But the term “good cop” is an oxymoron. The two cannot exist in the same place in this country,” commented Megan Hill, a senior majoring in communications from Providence, RI. "The Rice family maintains that Tamir was shot and killed unnecessarily by Cleveland police officers," Rice family co-counsel Walter Madison said in a statement. "Their tactics that preceded his death and the subsequent victim blaming are examples of the institutionalized behavior that has beset the Cleveland Police Department. The Rice family's lawsuit seeks to eliminate certain institutional behaviors and practices that have no place in our diverse community."According to Democracy Now! News reports, a White House task force has been assigned to calling to action a series of reforms in policing tactics, including increased transparency and further investigation into fatal shootings.Uploaded March 10, 2015