98-33E

We have performed Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of the lattice model mimicking liquid crystalline behavior in the presence of disordered quenched impurities. A well pronounced first order nematic-isotropic transition has been obtained for a bulk pure model. However, at a 5\% concentration of impurities, we have observed a very weak first order transition being suppreseed as compared to a pure case. We have discussed a shift of the transition temperature, a suppression of the latent heat and the maxima of the heat capacity and susceptibility due to the presence of impurities. A histogram analysis and a finite-size scaling has been applied to the MC data. A comparison of the simulation data with the experimental results for liquid crystals confined to silica aerogels and porous glasses also has been performed.