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Show Listen up News Editor: Kari Lynn Harland Phone: 626-7655 OPEN HOUR Journalists warn: pay attention to Olympic issues By Deanne W. Chaston online edilor-Xje Signpost u: " tubus should have paid more attention before the world discovered the International Olympic Committee scandal and should continue to pay attention as the games go on, speakers said at Thursday's Honors Issues Forum. "Ulahns need to pay attention," said Lisa Riley Roche, an Olympics writer for the "Deseret News." "They need to push journalists to do more." Mike Gorrcll, of the "Salt Lake Tribune," agreed. "Learn your lesson," Gorrell said. "Pay attention." The message got through to audience members. "I think they made a good point in telling us that Utahns need to be more responsible," said Weber State University student Carol Silte. However, the attention should have come before the letter that accompanied a S 1 0,000 check for tuition from the Salt Lake Olympic Committee to a daughter of an IOC member. The letter mysteriously found its way to a local television station Nov. 24, 1998. The letter was not the beginning of IOC bribes, said Roche, who has been covering the Salt Lake bid for the Olympics since 1990. "We had heard rumors for many, many years about what was being done to get the games," Roche said. The rumors included tales of I I ' .-..v., .(i i tst i& ? A. . if " ... t r ... - -4 ir, it ' - 1 rr- - - ;.! - ' ... ? i ' - wk.fci feM K J 3 "Deseret News" reporter Lisa Riley Roche addresses the audience at Thursday's Honors Issues Forum about the uncovering of the International Olympic Committee scandal. ?' SO ) shopping sprees, prostitutes, cash and lavish gifts, she said. "It wasn't until that letter surfaced that we really had evidence to write a story," Roche said. The letter surfaced, but no one at the IOC was willing to talk. "We were asking the right questions but not getting the right answers," Roche said. So, Howard Berkes of National Public Radio decided to take action.He tried finding an IOC member who did not approve of the bribes and was willing to talk. He was searching for the "ethical bone" in the IOC, he said. After four days of trying to get lELaQuagDlEh COMEDY CAFE', in touch with senior IOC member Mark Hoddler, Berkes finally met success. "That was the turning point of a story with intense local interest and some interest beyond Utah into the international fire storm that it has become,', Berkes said. Gorrell also found Hoddler willing to talk at the Lausanne, Switzerland IOC meeting. "He started spouting off that these bribes have been going on for some time now. They are not new," Gorrell said. If the bribes were not new, then why was it deemed international breaking news after Utah reporters published the information in Utah papers.' "The Olympics is a feel-good thing of peace, brotherhood, love and purity of sports," Berkes said. "We rarely talk about the downside to games." According to the speakers, Utahns were more concerned with putting themselves on the map when Salt Lake got the bid, and were not paying attention to IOC bribes. Now that the story has spread all around the world, Utahns still must pay attention to issues surrounding the games, the speakers said. Utahns should be wary of international Olympic reporters who 208 Historic 25th Street Ogden Thurs. at 8s600 Fri. & Sat. at 8 & 1 0:30 -MO00 few! Richfield City Corporation Job Opening Richfield City is accepting applications for Chief of Police. Qualifications and requircmenLs include: Graduation from a standard senior high school. POST certification; five (5) years of experience in law enforcement, a knowledge of police administrative procedures and must work well with the public. Resumes and references are required. Applications and a job description may be obtained at the Richfield Workforce Services Office located at 115 East 1(X) South. Richlield. Utah 84701 or from the office of the City Recorder at 75 East Center, Richfield. Utah S4701. Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on March 5. 1999. Richfield City Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. jWholesale Medical Supplies .Idult'DisposaBCe'Biicfs $49.95Case Sm-'Med 96 Case, L 72j'Case, XL call HeCted Undergarments $S9.95Caseof 144 Tersonal Care Items: LateQlmts, Sprays, Wipes, etc. Kensington Services, L.O505 South Commerce RoadOrem, UT 84058 Orem Office (801MJ4-741 1 .Toll-Free 1 -877-434-741 1 Trices V Sr START A HOME-BASED BUSINESS. WORK FLEXIBLE HOURS. ENJOY UNLIMITED EARNINGS. J V o will make their way to Utah up to six months before the games begin. They will report on polygamy and the influence of religion on local politics, the speakers said. "These journalists are coming," Roche said. "They may not see what we want to show them." The three journalists admitted covering the Olympics is a very stressful thing. Roche called her coverage "a first" in her professional career, while Gorrell said the continuing story produces the most tension he has experienced in his life. "This is not fun," Gorrell said. "These are families I know. It would have to be hellish for these people to have to be the focal point of an international scandal."The Olympic scandal has" brought out the Games' bad side. Like many others, WSU student Sherry Parsons is having difficulty enjoying the success of getting the 1995 bid. "It scares me, to be honest," Parsons said. "I see the down side, I don't see the benefits to the games." But the games will go on. The IOC has promised the SLOC the world will attend the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah. "I think we are all battle-weary of the story," Roche said. "But it is not over yet." FRIDAY & SATURDAY 15 4 Fri. 7:00: Sal. 2:00, 4:30 & 7:00 Adult M child $2 (12 8. under ' -4 TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT fl 'if?, ATTENTION PRE-DENTISTRY STUDENTS I . f . 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