Monday, November 17, 2003

Wilmington, NC – Programming for the week of November 17, UNCW Community Link, an interactive, public affairs television show chats with Congressman Barney Frank; Helen Hinn, Dr. Mary Rudyk and Jennifer Riker discuss information about living wills.

Congressman Barney Frank, D-Mass., joins Hunter Thompson this week to discuss his experiences as an openly gay congressman in the legislature. Since 1987, when he became the first gay man accepted into congress, Frank made his mark as an outspoken liberal fighting vigorously for abortion rights, welfare cutbacks, gun control, against NAFTA and, of course, gay rights among others. Frank considers himself a “champion of liberalism.”

As an active member of the Stonewall Democratic Association, Frank says that prejudice on gender and sexual orientation is the biggest difference between democrats and republicans, “it takes time to go from a prejudice society to one that isn’t.”

Also this week, Betty Ann Sanders sits down with Dr. Mary Rudyk, attorney Helen Hinn, and Jennifer Riker regarding the importance of writing a living will. As a gerontologist, Dr. Rudyk explained how patients should know who will make decisions for them when they are unable to do so themselves. Living with diabetes, Jennifer Riker decided to write a will after suffering from a seizure.

An Advanced Healthcare Directive Registry has been set up by the Secretary of State as a national database for all living wills. Aside from registering with the Directive, copies of living wills should be kept with a physician and family, in a safe deposit box and also in the car.



This week’s Editorially Yours segment is provided by UNCW graduate student Michael Tillman regarding university tuition increases.

UNCW Community Link reaches beyond the television studio to allow citizens to sound off on compelling issues facing Southeastern North Carolina. Hosts Sanders and Thompson engage and challenge the region’s newsmakers and opinion-shapers and then ask viewers to voice their opinions. Through collaboration with the Southeast Public Interest Network of North Carolina (www.SpinNC.org), citizens can use the latest Internet technologies to continue the dialog on show topics and community ideas. UNCW Community Link is brought to you in part by the following sponsors: Time Warner Cable, Wilmington Star-News and WHQR Public Radio.



Tune into UNCW Community Link:

Wilmington & Brunswick County can tune in on The Learning Network, Time Warner Ch 5 and Charter Communications Ch 12 at 7 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays

Pender County can tune in on Government Channel 8 at 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Carteret County/Havelock can tune in on Time Warner Channel 10 at 7 p.m. on Thursdays

Jacksonville can tune in on Time Warner Channel 10 at 7 p.m. on Thursdays