ITHACA, N.Y. -- As part of Cornell University's annual commemoration of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Aaron Brown, lead anchor on CNN during the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, will deliver a talk titled "On Being Part of History: 9/11 and the Election" on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. in Statler Auditorium on campus.

Brown's talk is free and open to the public; seating is first-come, first-served. Following the lecture, there will be a meet-and-greet session.

Sept. 11, 2001, was Brown's first day as news anchor for CNN (he had been with the network for only a year), and less than an hour after the first terrorist attack, he began covering the unparalleled event from a rooftop in New York City. His steadfast presence on that momentous day, and his continued coverage of the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, including reports from "ground zero," helped to calm and inform stunned viewers worldwide.

Since then he has covered numerous news events for CNN, including "the war on terrorism," the 2002 elections, the Washington, D.C., sniper attacks and the aftermath of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. During the invasion of Iraq, Brown anchored the coverage from CNN's headquarters in Atlanta.

Brown will discuss his role as a central news figure during the 9/11 crisis as well as provide insights how 9/11 will effect the upcoming national elections and CNN's responsibility to provide balanced and accurate reporting to the world.

Current anchor of CNN's flagship newscast "NewsNight with Aaron Brown, " Brown formerly served as news anchor for ABC's "World News Tonight Saturday" and was a reporter for "World News Tonight" and "Nightline."

Brown's talk is sponsored by the Cornell's offices of Campus Life, Chapters of Excellence, the Dean of Students and the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education. For more information on Brown's visit, contact Mike Barry at (607) 255-1898 or by e-mail at mjb44@cornell.edu .