At least five students in a class of 150 could be carrying HIV, journalism instructor Bill Wright told students in a news in mass communications class yesterday.

The class of 150 fell silent.

Wright spoke about the media's role in providing AIDS information to the public.

The media does not provide adequate information on the prevention of the AIDS/HIV virus he said.

"The reason is we (the media) don't want to offend our readers, listeners, or viewers. More importantly, we don't want to offend our advertisers. To this day, the media holds back on their coverage," he said.

With women ages 18 to 25 rapidly becoming the largest group with the AIDS virus, it is important to educate the public about prevention, Wright said.

"The number of reported American deaths from AIDS has now exceeded the number of deaths from the Vietnam war," Wright said. "And you can imagine how many people are carrying HIV and don't know it."

Wright mentioned celebrities such as Rock Hudson and Arthur Ash, both of whom contracted the AIDS virus. Although the media covered their stories, they failed to mention anything about AIDS prevention.

He said Magic Johnson, who announced in 1991 that he was infected with the HIV virus, is not doing fine, as the media says.

"If you believe that he is not showing some signs of HIV, then you believe in the tooth fairy."

Wright contrasted AIDS coverage to the way the media handled the tuberculosis epidemic of the 1920s. The media provided prevention information, and "covered it like a blanket."

"So what is the difference between TB, a killer, and AIDS, also a killer?" he asked.

Sex is one explanation, Wright said.

Wright also asked whether the media would be dictating to society if they provided information for AIDS prevention.

Journalism sophomore Chris Vail responded, saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. You practice safe sex because you want to, it's your decision."