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Lawsuit GM s suit against NBC will worsen both companies' already tarnished images General Motors' lawsuit against NBC is one more chapter in the long, sad epic of struggling corporate America. The last thing the United States needs is an all-out "down and dirty" fight between two of the country's industrial heavyweights. Both NBC, who is owned by General Electric, and GM are struggling to change their tarnished image. And GM's announced lawsuit against NBC Monday will not help either company and their perception problem. The lawsuit stems from a report shown this past fall on "Dateline NBC," where a car was driven into the side of a GM pickup truck, causing an explosion. The issue of the report dealt with the susceptibility of GM's 1973-87 trucks to explode if broadsided. During this period, the gas tanks of GM's pickups were located on the sides of the truck, outside of the main body frame. GM modified the trucks after 1987, putting the gas tanks inside the frame. GM claims the accident footage on the NBC program was not completely legitimate. The car giant's lawyers say model rockets, the size of A A batteries, were used to spark the explosion of the truck while appearing to be caused by the accident. The rockets were allegedly set off via remote control, according to GM. NBC admits it used "sparking devices," but that a headlight filament caused the fire. Harry Pearce, GM's general counsel, said, "GM has been irreparably damaged, and we are going to defend ourselves." This is not what these two companies need. GM has been steadily losing sales for years to foreign and domestic auto companies. Poor safety and reliability records have also haunted the company for most of the '80s and '90s. GM s latest car line, Saturn, has been one ot the corporation's few breaths of fresh air. And rtiany analysts, and consultants feel GM will hurt its image even further by continuing the discussion of its trucks' safety. But the auto giant is not the only megacompany with problems. General Electric's NBC has been losing as of late in the eternal race for ratings, both in primetime and evening news programs. And, of course, David Letterman's abrupt departure from NBC gave the network more bad press and, eventually, lower late night ratings. So neither of these companies can afford to wage a high profile fight in the courts, and they should not have to. Both companies should put this incident behind them. It is not worth the time, money, poor public image and overall effort to either company to go through with this. Instead of attacking each other, concentrate on their real opponents ? the other networks and car companies. Hells Bells presentation too extreme, offensive Over the years, I have been an enormous music fan. People here at USC who know me well enough also know I love a wide variety of music ? especially rock'n'roll. wBKmWKm | So when I heard about a multimedia program called "Hells Bells" being sponsored by Rock I I Christian Fellowship, I jumped at the opportunity to attend. Since I heard an evangelist JAY named Ken Dew was going to do T I L L E Y the presentation, I pretty much I??_____ knew what was going to be said. In addition, Mr. Dew was inacBasically, Mr. Dew showed a curate when he said no other relivideo about rock 'n' roll and gion relies on a dominant deity talked during and after the video like Christianity. This is totally about how these styles of music false because the majority of the were corrupt and satanic. world's religions confide in some Of course, I disagreed with sort of supreme being., much of the program, and I quite I also believe Mr. Dew was franklv found some of the aspects inaccurate in assessing the sym of Mr. Dew's talk and video bolism used in rock videos and rather offensive. To be fair, Mr. the messages rock 'n' roll music Dew presented his argument very is sending. For example, Mr. Dew well, and I applaud the efforts chastised some rock groups for made by him and the members of using the symbol of the cross and RCF: however, I did find some crucifixion in their videos when errors in the presentation, and I they are actually speaking for believe there are a few items Mr. Satan. I disagree. Dew and the RCF staff should First of all, I could easily make consider. a case of how the scenes from the First of all, I thought the addi- movie "Jesus of Nazareth," which tion of a man suffering from was shown in the video, are sacriAIDS in the video was a bit on legious because of someone imithe extreme side and a slap in the tating Jesus. Of course, I don't face to not only myself but to my believe this because I thought Roman Catholic faith. We do not "Jesus of Nazareth" was probably believe in a fiery, judgmental and the best movie ever made about wrathful God like some denomi- Christ. My point is to show how nations. We believe in a loving, ridiculous Mr. Dew's argument is. caring and understanding God. I will give Mr. Dew the benefit The man in the video looked of the doubt, however. Some of terrible, lhe man talked about the music he talked about is satanhow he had listened to rock 'n' ic, but only a small portion of it roll music, partied, drank and had is. I believe Mr. Dew and the peoone-night stands and that now he pie of RCF are obsessed with was being punished by God. ^ satanism and are willing to go to That part struck a nerve in me, any extreme to exploit it. not only because of my faith, but The video was too extreme by because I had a homosexual rela- venturing to pick on people such tive die not long ago from AIDS, as Frank Sinatra, Whitney This part could have and should Houston, George Michael and have been deleted. Hammer. That is being a bit too extreme for this columnist. Ia ^-s ^lS< TCrtft Ortvser LIIMMS? Limiting bullet Guns don't kill people. People certainly don't kill people. And believe it or not, 12 years of JR Republican presidents didn't kill anyone either. Bullets kill people. I am hereby proposing a new tactic to win the ongoing war on guns. Stop selling bullets to every knucklehead who wants to buy 1 them. I say, sell them to the police, the FBI and the hunters. And to the WAG nunters, only sen a rationed supply, i If they're a bad shot, then oh well, find another hobby. How do drug dealers and murderers get th< bullets for their guns? If they don't buy then from Cuban gun dealers, they must buy them a Smokin' Rick's Guns and Ammo shop. Thinl about it. If we now sell bullets to any Tom Dick or Harry with a couple of bucks and a rid< to the gun shop, then we aren't winning an} war. And If they want to purchase bullets chances are pretty good they have a gun. Virginia is sort of on the right track. The} just passed a law that puts limits on the amoun of guns a person can buy a month. Now I don' Students should should ai respect school spec'"^ school. To the editor: Your Several incidents I have recently money g seen have prompted me to write that are this letter. The first occurred in destroyec Gambrell Hall. I watched a student higher le taice a piece 01 gum irom nis ^-yc?u-un mouth and attempt to toss it into cannot a the trash can. He missed and didn't treated, t even attempt to pick it up. The ^ey act. same day, I was walking through demand $ the Sumwalt Engineering Building com] and happened to look up. Someone tuition i had taken a mouthful of dip and would try thrown it on the ceiling. The third money bi incident occurred in the Swearingen Engineering Center. A student had a cup of ice on the floor. He accidentally knocked the cup over with his foot and did not Advis bother to pick the ice up. The gum is still in the carpet at again: Gambrell, the dip is still on the ceiling in Sumwalt and the ice Xo the ed would probably still be in jn resp Swearingen if it had not melted. At "Ethics q a time in their lives when people selection want to be treated like adults, they express r newsroom fnW 777-7726 ? P.O. BOX 85131 UNIV Editor in Chief Associate Editors La Viewpoint Editor Copy Desk Chief News Editors Ja Asst. News Editors Lea Clay Carolina! Editor Asst. Carolina! Editor Sports Editors Nancy S Asst. Sports Editor Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editor Graphics Editor Asst. Graphics Editor > Cartoonist Copy Editors CI Student Media Coordinator Production Manager Asst. Production Manager Advertising Manager Faculty Adviser Graduate Assistant Darkroom Technicians Erin Ga ips sink : /AS I'T /fSifTs WETUIA SAIP >th^ wmM s should b know who buj t time.they nee least Virginia i: In South C understand it walk into a s with a 20-gaug noon. In Nev come from, in gun you have I T . intense 30-day E N H E I M 311(1 chances ar it even then. So now we I with guns. The radicals in i Association are the first to i i constitutional rights" when t are brought up. c But these are the same pe< moan every time the medii - seems the NRA doesn'i f Constitution that protects > aims should protect the fre< bad. If we at least slow down c 1 we'd have all these people v Llfl! * ICC st council story sup vie litor: et^ onse to Monday's article, *~ie( luestions cloud council's rev process," I would like to w^( ny regrets. I regret that ^0 5ai ERSITY OF SOUTH Patrick Villegas e Clontz, J.T. Wagenheim Gordon Mantler gouj Brian Garland ^ ck Dunn, Melissa Tennen ec ton, Rochelle Killingbeck wee Jennifer Fuller vers Melinda Waldrop alomonsky, Tim Thorsen Rob Rodusky Stephanie Nevvlin Kelly Johnson piib. Gregory Perez pare Chris Muldrow Paul J?n corn iris Davis, Thorn Harman t: x ? 1x16 .jiiii ivu:i\.miar Laura Day Jim Green Coll Renee Gibson of tf Erik Collins , Brian McGuire lloway, Rika Hashimoto e key to 2 / o 's a new gun every guns ? d a haircut, but at bers w s making an effort. all of arolina, the way I wrong is anyone can just shoot < tore and walk out just ^ e shotgun that afterv Jersey, where I bly pro order to buy an air lilrp to go through an en f application process aon(l u e you might not get ^ M tave all these people the National Rifle ^ust >cream "violation of School issues of gun bans musl ^ worth ople who whine and South ( l criticizes them. It worse, t think the same . their right to bear ti003! r idom of press. Too fa^ ia loaded'; ct like adults. I think it is Mi to see how much disre- wl tudents have for their Fr fee tuition money and tax us< 0 to pay for these things 1 defaced, abused and soi I. This is an institution for nai aming, not a playpen for tot d mess makers. If students un ict like they want to be coi hey should be treated as tio For "young adults" who wa ;o much from their school nat olain so much when their fiei s raised, it seems they the r to take care of what their fac lys. cil soi Chuck Cook off Engineering senior the mo er speaks out Miuuiu ve sent University of South Carolin, Subscription rates are $46 ; imbia, SC. The Gamecock i< \e University of South Carol t activity fees. Icocl CAROLINA C The Gamecock is the stude th Carolina and is publishe< Inesdays and Fridays durinj kly during both summer se ity holidays and examinatio Opinions expressed in The uthor and not those of the U The Board of Student Publk lisher of The Gamecock. TTu int organization of The Gam Change of address forms, >n bullet production, J l- YYl valking around with of The r. Mantler did not contact tile doing his research, eshman Council Co-adviser ;1 I could have provided so jful facts. First of all, your anonymc rce gave you some incorr mes. Since the selection proo )k place last September, it derstandable that your sour< jld have mixed up their infom n. This is unfortunate since is insinuated that the perse Tied in your article are unqut d for their positions. This is i : case, which is proven by I t that three out of the four coi members named by yo irees currently hold executi ices. I can attest that all 40 memoers on tne council ? re than qualified. Secondly, the selection comm functioned exactly as it w posed to. The committee int< wed applicants and recommer the 50 they felt were most qua 1. Their recommendations we iewed by President Tom Your o used his authority to appoi members. All executive po: ????????????? ' I'M em A/6 fMAT iMKIAfO ??UA/& \GAlN. ___/ un control - that weren't lna<ie<1 Anrl clnwlv rham. ould become emptier and emptier. Then the bad people who use guns for the reasons can get together and pretend to ;ach other with guns that aren't loaded, e when they were kids, the bullets made in this world are probaduced in Japan anyway, so it wouldn't be 'ing off the American man who has wokIve days a week for the past 50 years and ) work at the bullet factory so he could s family. e are kids going to schools with guns, st week a teenager at Lexington High was shot in the neck over a sandwich. It ave been a really good one too if it was getting shot over. It's not just here in Carolina, it's everywhere. And it's getting not better. NRA speaks so highly of the constituight to bear arms. Fine, but where does it the Constitution those arms can be } igenheim is an Associate Editor Gamecock me tions are subject to this presidential As power. I do not know if any other , I president has ever exercised this me privilege; however, I do know that Tom was within his executive >us rights. Furthermore, as an appointed ed member of the president's cabiess net and as an active member of is Young Democrats, I do not feel res that Tom Young would hold partina sanship over qualified applicants. it I agree a question of ethics >ns clouded this year's Freshman di- Council selection; however, I feel lot the unethical behavior took place [he when the 1992 Freshman Council in- Selection Committee chose to ur mock the process of selection by ve releasing confidential information of concerning applicants, ire In closing, many of USC's outstanding leaders have been memlit bers of Freshman Council. It is as inappropriate that this valuable *r- nrO!)ni7ati/Mi onH ire nrnH ~ - UIIU HO pi VUUVilYV id- members should suffer ridicule or Ji- embarrassment over unsubstantiat:re ed information. 'o* int Nicki McBrayer si- Freshman Council Co-adviser k ADVERTISING 777-4249 OLUMBIA, SC 29208 nt newspaper of the University of i three times a week on Mondays, 5 the fall and spring semesters and ?ssions, with the exception of unin periods. Gamecock are those of the editors niversity of South Carolina, rations and Communications is the ? Student Media Department is the ecock. subscriptions, requests and other to The Gamecock, P.O. Box 85131, a, Columbia, SC 29208. a year. First class postage paid at > a registered student organization lina and is partially funded by stu-,.