In remembrance of the 20th anniversary of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy are hosting a virtual discussion of “9/11: Two Decades Later” with Vanderbilt historians and scholars. The panel of experts will examine how the events of Sept. 11, 2001, altered the course of foreign policy, democracy, industry and society through the past 20 years. Panelists will also explore what it means to be an American and a “united states” in reflection of the day’s events.
The event will be broadcast Friday, Sept. 10, at noon CT. The virtual discussion is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
With an introduction from Chancellor Diermeier, the virtual panel features:
- Samar Ali, (BS’03, JD’06), lawyer, entrepreneur, Vanderbilt research professor of law and political science, and co-chair of the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy. In September 2001, Ali was an undergraduate at Vanderbilt and would become the president of Vanderbilt SGA, giving a moving speech in front of the Rand Center in commemoration of the first anniversary of the events of Sept. 11.
- Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize–winning presidential historian and biographer, Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Chair in American Presidency and co-chair of the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy. In September 2001, Meacham was managing editor of Newsweek, leading extensive coverage of the events of the day and beyond.
- Ganesh Sitaraman, New York Alumni Chancellor’s Chair in Law at Vanderbilt and scholar of constitutional law, the regulatory state, economic policy, democracy and foreign affairs. In September 2001, Sitaraman was a student at Harvard College, soon after co-editing Invisible Citizens: Youth Politics after September 11, an examination of young America’s attitudes toward politics and the impact of September 11 on youth political engagement.
About the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy
The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy is a nonpartisan initiative that aims to elevate research and evidence-based reasoning into the national conversation. Drawing on original research, evidence-based papers and crucial conversations from Vanderbilt’s world-class faculty and visionary thought leaders of all political persuasion, the timely endeavor aims to give policymakers and the public the tools needed to combat conspiracy and unfounded ideology with evidence, data and respectful discourse. The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy can make a meaningful contribution to solving society’s most pressing challenges and bridging our deepest differences.
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