Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 23

THE HARTFORD COURANT: Monday, March 26, 1990 B9 High court may decide fate of WHCT-TV Continaed from Connecticut Page he was barred from competing for the station because he is a white man. IIIU Mil Thousands of people in the United States are already seeing better WITHOUT lenses or surgery. How? New, computerized technology trains a person to focus correctly. The end result is improved or totally corrected vision. Effectiveness rates exceed 90 and the training lasts virtually a lifetime.

The cost can be covered by most insurance. A $10 screening is offered to determine if a person is an appropriate candidate. MINI t0ft! OMIiMi MiS fen est to minorities and doubts most non-minorities would do the same. He acknowledges that minority programming on Channel 18 has declined in recent years, but he attributes that to the station's financial problems. They grew more severe, he said, as the station became bogged down in the legal battle over the license and mired in a dispute over the location of its transmission tower in Avon.

The station now broadcasts many program-length commercials, a home shopping program, Catholic Church masses and Harford Whalers and Boston Celtics games. Without addressing questions about the partnership or programming, a federal appeals court in Washington last year ruled that Shurberg had been discriminated against because he was barred from competing for the station. Astroline then appealed to the high court. In the Florida case, a different panel of judges in the same federal appeals court in Washington upheld another FCC affirmative-action policy that allows gender and race to be among several factors used to issue a license in a competitive hearing. Such a conflict in appeals court rulings often causes the high court to take cases for review.

Among those filing friend-of-the-court briefs backing Astroline were the American Civil Liberties Union, If Shurberg wins, Astroline's license probably will be revoked. It could be returned temporarily to the previous owner, Faith Center, until a hearing, or the FCC could quickly solicit bids and avoid returning the license to Faith Center. If Shurberg loses, the court still may modify, but not scrap, federal affirmative action. The Bush administration, in a surprising turn, did not present a unified front on the issue, unlike the Reagan administration. The Bush administration has allowed the FCC to defend affirmative-action policies, while also allowing the justice department to oppose them.

John Scully of the Washington Legal Foundation, an opponent of affirmative action, finds the administration's internal division quite uncommon. "If Bush wanted to send a clear signal that he is opposed to a quota system, he could do it," Scully said. The administration's lack of a clear signal may not matter, however, since the view of the majority of justices in the past few years has been clear on affirmative action. They have strongly indicated their antipathy to preferences for minorities and women, and there is little reason to believe they will be shy about expressing their distaste for affirmative action in the broadcasting cases. the National Association of Black Broadcasters and Capital Cities-ABC Inc.

Capital CitiesABC former owners of WTNH-TV, Channel 8, in New Haven, derived tax benefits from its 1986 sale of Channel 8 to a minority-owned enterprise in Alaska, whose owners include native Alaskans, said Steve Perler, business manager for the New Haven station. Also supporting Astroline are the Communications Committee of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ; the Department of Communications of the Capitol Region Conference of Churches in Hartford; and the American Jewish Committee. The FCC policies are opposed by the Department of Justice, which has been joined by several conservative legal groups such as the Washington Legal Foundation. "It cannot be said that there is evidence of prior discrimination in the broadcasting industry, let alone in the awarding of broadcast licenses, to justify race-conscious relief," the justice department said in a brief. If Astroline wins, the company will be able to retain its license for Channel 18, leaving it free to offer it for sale to pay off its debts, or to continue operating under a bankruptcy court reorganization plan.

"Affirmative action is little than a system of apartheid directed aeainst white oeoDle." hp sairt "if i am successful, this will mark the final death blow to affirmative ac tion, mere will be nothing left of race-based preferential treatment throughout the government." He also asserts that Astroline is not really a minority-owned company. He said Ramirez is a front man for a corporation that is essentially being run by whites. "Ramirez was little more than a token," Shurberg said. "Astroline was set up, Day 1, as a front, a sham, solely to take advantage of FCC policies that were available to purported minorities only. I was denied an opportunity to acquire the station sole ly oecause i am a wmte male." Ramirez dismites these rharops He said he was a working partner who contributed sweat equity and ran the station without interference from other partners.

i am the person ultimately re- spunsiDie ior me claims ot tne creditors," he said. "If you think that is a front, then you are blinking at reality. I negotiated every contract. I made every hiring decision." Ramirez said he worked hard to broadcast programs of special inter fWU-FRONT KITCHEN CABINET FRONTS AVAILABLE IN FORMICA or WOODS BUY DIRECT FROM MANUFACTURER AND SAVE! VISIT OUR SHOWROOM i ii-r a-j Sat. 9-2 S0 CAN MAKE YOUR OLD KITCHEN CABINETS LOOK LIKE NEW For Free in Home Estimate Call 667-8122 out of town 1 -800-525-9021 175 Costello Road, Newington Students find lawmaking a serious, rewarding role Equitystars HOME EQUITY LOAN SPECIALISTS HOME EQUITY LOANS Let the Professionals at Equitystars Get You the Equity Loan or Refinancing that You Need.

Low Fixed Rates No Application Fees No Broker Fees Programs for All Types of Credit Homeowners Apply By Phone language in addressing the speaker were ignored until the proper phrasing was used. Because of the large group of students, two Senate groups and two House groups were established. Members were assigned to separate committees, including public health, transportation, revenue and taxation, education, judiciary and the environment. Some participated in a Youth-in-Law session, arguing a hypothetical case before a panel of judges. "This gives kids a personal experience in the political process," said Connie Adams, director of this year's program.

"It's their first taste of power." Youth Gov. Ted Rose of Mid-dletown High School made himself at home in the spacious office of Secretary of the State Julia H. Tashjian. Rose spent the weekend listening to lobbyists, signing bills and, in some cases, vetoing legislation and providing members with an explanation of his actions. Rose, who served as deputy Speaker of the House last year, said he enjoyed his term as governor.

"I enjoy it so much because it's all so fast-paced. I would never get a chance to do this anywhere else," he said. Educating welfare recipients for specific jobs; making state enforcement of the death penalty stricter; establishing rehabilitation programs for drug-addicted mothers and their infants; legalizing the exposure of the female breast in public exhibitions; and making birth control more accessible to high school students were some of the most popular bills introduced. The students, ages 15 to 18, represented 18 towns. by 3 men on 1-95 time later as he walked near Exit 2, DeSanty said.

Donovan Green, 23, of Stamford, turned himself in to Greenwich police, DeSanty said. Smith and Green were charged with assaulting a police officer and second-degree robbery. Smith also was charged with possession of narcotics. Still at large is Fitzroy Smith, address and age unknown, DeSanty said. He said it is not known whether Fitzroy Smith is related to Patrick Smith.

Students chosen for leaders' program FARMINGTON Two high school sophomores were selected Sunday to represent Connecticut in a national program designed to prepare today's youth to be tomorrow's leaders. The students were selected from 190 Connecticut sophomores who gathered at the Hartford Marriott hotel for a weekend of seminars, essay-writing, leadership training and social activities. The winners were chosen by members of the Greater Hartford Jay-cees. The winners are Ivan Kerbel, a student at Hopkins Grammar Day School in New Haven, and Jolyne Marie Turecek from Sacred Heart Academy in Bridgeport. mm III Sill 11 4fii lf.i I -A lllVI rtw -i 180044M Trooper assaulted A state trooper was assaulted by three men walking along 1-95 near the New York border Saturday night and his gun was stolen, a spokesman for the Westport state police barracks said Sunday.

Two suspects were arrested Saturday night, Sgt. Harold P. DeSanty said Sunday. DeSanty said the trooper, John Mcguire, approached the men Saturday about 9 p.m. as they walked along 1-95 near Exit 2, the Delevan Avenue exit.

DeSanty said Maguire offered the men a ride to a telephone. DeSanty said the trooper saw a bag containing what he thought was cocaine in one of the men's pockets after doing a routine search before allowing the men into the police car. The men then assaulted him, DeSanty said, and one of them took his revolver. Two shots were fired during the incident, which ended when the men fled down an embankment. Greenwich police arrested Patrick Smith, 18, of Norwalk, a short Today at the Capitol All events are open to the public and take place in the Legislative Office Building next to the Capitol unless otherwise noted.

Times and places may change. 10 a.m.: Finance, revenue and bonding committee public hearing on the assessment of water company land, the admission of towns into the Metropolitan District of Hartford County, and other issues. Room 2E. 10 a.m.: Appropriations committee public hearing on a constitutional limit on state spending, a biennial state budget and other issues. Room 2C.

1:30 p.m.: Manufacturing task force meeting. Room 2D. 2 p.m.: Government administration and elections committee meeting. Room 2A. I Our client Karen Clark, 19691 NuMSyBMnc I centers YOUR 7i I A) I I I A I By MAXINE BERNSTEIN Courant Staff Writer The halls and chambers of the state Capitol were alive with activity during the weekend even though the General Assembly was not in session.

More than 300 youths from across the state put aside their roles as students and assumed the responsibility of lawmakers as they vigorously debated a list of bills on topics such as high school graduation requirements, drunken driving penalties, abortion, gun control and health insurance. The mock legislative session, sponsored by the state YMCA Youth and Government Program, marked the culmination of more than five months of preparation that included drafting bills and learning parliamentary procedure. Students took their duties seriously, dressing in business clothes, using legislative lingo, campaigning and lobbying for votes, and granting interviews to a student press corps. Conducting the session in the House and Senate chambers provided an added thrill for the student legislators. Many gazed in awe at the stained-glass windows in the House chamber.

Some grew comfortable using a gavel to silence their colleagues, and others enjoyed listening to their voices fill the room by way of the microphone. "Clapping when a bill fails is completely out of order," said Mary Beth Zupa of New Canaan, student Speaker of the House, after a vote was taken. Student lawmakers who did not use the appropriate parliamentary Say it with flowers Sent with special care Allied Florists Association of Central Connecticut VINYL or ALUMINUM (WITH INSULATION) Estimates Without Obligation BARTLETT BRAINARD PRODUCTS Visit Our Showroom At75TalcottRd.f West Hartford Serving Homeowners for 50 Years 233-4475 "I made a New Year's resolution to lose 114 lbs. IiiHuvwjatviii iisipvu lire nccp ih i 1 Willi I "It's the only time I've kept one of my New Year's resolutions, and I couldn't be happier. My weight's been off for 2 years now.

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