Politics Professor Educates the Public Through News

Associate Professor Bilal Sekou has been sharing his political expertise this summer, though classes aren’t in session and election season hasn’t yet ramped up. Sekou, who teaches political science at the University of Hartford’s Hillyer College, has been busy in the media. 

Sekou spoke with the Hartford Courant about voter engagement and turnout in Hartford, explaining that socioeconomic factors such as income and education level can have an impact on the number of voters showing up at the polls. Voters in different areas may also not feel confident their votes count or make a difference, he added.  

The Courant also published an op-ed written by Sekou (third letter on the page) about the Supreme Court’s recent affirmative action decision and local legislators’ responses. 

Additionally, he was interviewed by Hearst Connecticut Media about the governor’s choice in a particular lawyer to investigate state police tickets, as the lawyer has previously represented Gov. Ned Lamont’s wife and her firm still does. Sekou offered perspective about the ethics and optics of the decision, as well as the importance of the issue to residents of Connecticut. 

In a separate story about Lamont's wife's company, Sekou spoke with News 12 about transparency and the privacy compromises that come with being an elected official. The story centered around the company's ties to an investment firm funded by the Saudi royal family 

Sekou also serves as chairman of Common Cause Connecticut, a nonprofit that lobbies for open, honest, and accountable government, voters’ rights, and election reform.