In an effort to expand public discourse about Islam, DePaul University’s Islamic World Studies (IWS) program will hold a town hall meeting, entitled “Islam: Image and Reality—Good Muslim, Bad Muslim,” Sept. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Schmitt Academic Center (SAC), 2320 N. Kenmore Ave., Room 154.

A reception will be held prior to the discussion, from 6 to 7 p.m., in the first-floor, west lounge area of SAC. Both the reception and meeting are free and open to the public.

“We live in a society in which events halfway around the world impact our local communities,” explained Aminah McCloud, director of DePaul’s IWS program. “It is essential that we have forums to discuss these events and the issues surrounding them. The Islamic World Studies program follows DePaul’s Vincentian mission to foster life-long learning, with an aim toward eradicating myths and stereotypes about Islam.”

The program will open with a discussion of Mahmood Mamdani’s book, “Good Muslim, Bad Muslim.” Discussants are Sherman Jackson, an associate professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Michigan, and John Woods, a professor of history at the University of Chicago.

Mamdani, director of the Institute for African Studies at Columbia University, is a third-generation East African of Indian ancestry, who was twice exiled from his native Uganda for his political beliefs. “Good Muslim, Bad Muslim” is the most recent of his three books and has been widely reviewed. The discussion—in keeping with the book’s focus—will center on stereotypes.

John Edwin Mroz, president and CEO of the EastWest Institute, will serve as facilitator of the town hall meeting. He has served as an advisor to two G-8 Summit Meetings, the European Union, NATO, The Council of Europe, as well as many governments in Eastern Europe, Ukraine and Russia.

The audience will have the opportunity to respond to dialogue and to present questions. For more information about the upcoming IWS Town Hall Meeting or future meetings, contact Aminah McCloud at 773/325-4905 or e-mail iws@depaul.edu .