Lydon to moderate town meeting on 9/11

It has been a year of stunning news developments. New players (Osama bin Laden), new jargon (terrorist sleep cells) and some not-so-new issues (racial profiling) have made their way into the national psyche.

On the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy will co-sponsor a town meeting on Monday, September 9, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Cabot Intercultural Center on the Medford/Somerville campus.

The town meeting, "The New American Profile: Eye on the 'Other,' " is billed as a conversation between a group of experts and an audience of 300 to 400 people, including students and citizens from the Boston area.

Christopher Lydon, former host of "The Connection" on WBUR-FM radio and anchor of the "Ten O'Clock News" on Channel 2, will moderate the discussion. Topics will include changes in our national psyche and public policy issues such as civil liberties, racial profiling, diversity and immigrant life.

• Leila Fawaz, director of the Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies at Tufts and the Issam M. Fares Professor in Lebanese and Eastern Mediterranean Studies. She holds a joint appointment at the Fletcher School and in the history department.
• Ralph Martin II, an attorney and former Suffolk County district attorney.
• Jimmy Tingle, political humorist and former commentator on "60 Minutes II."
• Qamar-ul Huda, assistant professor of Islamic studies and comparative theology at Boston College.
• Usmaan Ahmad, a Fletcher student and political activist.