Political Science Prof. Andy Aoki spoke with KARE 11 about the importance of creating diverse police departments in the cities聽of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The story, which took a look at local police departments, was being explored in light of recent clashes between the public and police聽in Ferguson, Missouri. Aoki said one way to help quell tensions is by developing a more diverse force. “Bringing in a more diverse force, I think, is one of the best steps,” Aoki told KARE 11’s Adrienne Broaddus. “There is a real聽problem if you don’t have people who understand communities that see things from very different points of view. Even if they are well intended, you can have misunderstandings.” Watch the interview on “Ferguson fallout: Looking at local police diversity.” Aoki is featured in the video in the middle of the page.
Andy Aoki answers WCCO ‘Good Question’ on ISIS
Professor Andy Aoki聽spoke with WCCO-TV about the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, known as ISIS, for the聽news station’s Good Question. Aoki, who teaches in the College’s political science department, explained to television viewers that ISIS is an extreme militant group that has been disavowed by Al Qaeda. He commented that this relatively young organization is rare, in part, because unlike most of history’s other horrific killers, this group isn’t trying to hide any of its actions. “It鈥檚 rare to find a group like this that鈥檚 not even embarrassed. Even the Nazis were denying some of the things they did. If you look at some of the most horrific killers the last 30 or 40 years, they鈥檝e got to be in the top 5 so far,”聽he told viewers. Watch聽“.”
Andy Aoki discusses election in Star Tribune and on MinnPost
Andy Aoki, chair of political science, spoke with聽Star Tribune聽columnist Gail Rosenblum last week on why voters do and do not turn out at the polls during elections. Read 鈥淒id you vote? Thanks. Here鈥檚 why you did it鈥� in the聽Star Tribune.
Aoki also was interviewed for the article, 鈥淓lection seems to signal the ascension of a new Minneapolis DFL鈥� on the聽. In this article, Aoki discussed turnout numbers in varying Minneapolis wards.