WWW . THESKANNER . COM
J UNE 20 , 2012
P ORTLAND , O REGON
V OLUME XXXIV, N O . 25
25
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C HALLENGING P EOPLE TO S HAPE A B ETTER F UTURE N OW
OCBA
Firings:
Why?
MICHELLE
Gov. Kitzhaber boots
two commissioners –
no explanation
Lisa Loving
Of The Skanner News
PHOTO BY CHRIS HO PHOTGRAPHY
F
ired Oregon Commission for Black
Affairs members Clifford Walker and
Willie Woolfolk say they have been
invited to hearings at the state capitol to
“clear their names” – but as yet neither has
been informed about exactly what they are
supposed to have done to get the boot.
“Can you believe this?” Woolfolk said
Friday morning. “It sure would be nice to
know what I’m clearing my name from.”
However, a series of emails between the
commissioners and the Oregon Advocacy
Commission administrative staff, obtained
by The Skanner News, shows that a power
struggle between the two commissioners
and the staff brewed throughout this past
spring.
However it’s unclear whether their con-
flicts had anything to do with the firings
since the governor’s office is refusing com-
ment.
Commissioners are not paid employees,
they are volunteers appointed by the gover-
nor.
The paid support employees tend to daily
operations of the state’s four advocacy com-
missions, for: women; Black affairs; His-
panic affairs; and Asian and Pacific Islander
affairs.
Walker and Woolfolk have served on the
board for five years and four years, respec-
tively.
Walker is an Air Force veteran, retired
entrepreneur and founder of the Portland-
Mutare, Zimbabwe, Sister City Association.
He is a longtime HIV/AIDS education
activist.
Woolfolk is a construction worker and 15
year member of the Construction & General
Laborers Union of Southern Oregon.
As of Friday morning, both men’s photos
and biographies had been scrubbed from the
OCBA website, although two new commis-
sion members still have incomplete profiles.
First Lady Michelle Obama delivered the 2012 Commencement Address at Oregon State University, Sunday June 17.
She is pictured here with OSU Provost Sabah Randhawa, (left) and OSU President Ed Ray who awarded her an
honorary Doctorate in Public Health for her work to raise awareness about healthy living.
First Lady, Public Health Doctor
Michelle Obama tells new OSU graduates ‘live your dreams’
Helen Silvis
Of The Skanner News
Michelle Obama wowed an
enthusiastic crowd of 5000
graduates and their families at
Oregon State University
where she gave the 2012 Com-
mencement address, Sunday
June 17. Speaking under clear
blue skies, the First Lady
spoke about her father and
how much he had taught her
about life. She made sure to
tell him she loved him, before
his death from multiple sclero-
sis.
“...no matter what struggles
or setbacks you face in your
life, focus on what you have,
not what you’re missing,” she
said.
“My Dad taught us this les-
son every day by how he lived
his life.”
Obama urged graduates to
pursue their dreams, telling
them that fat paychecks, fancy
offices
and
impressive
resumes are not the most
important things in life.
She was a highly paid
lawyer, but felt unfilled and
left to go work in the Chicago
Mayor’s office, where she felt
she could make a more valu-
able contribution.
“I was living the dream, but
it wasn’t my dream,” Obama
said. “Craig felt the same way,
unbeknownst to me.”
The First Lady’s brother
Craig Robinson left a lucrative
financial services career to
coach basketball. He currently
is head basketball coach at
OSU. Robinson told reporters
he was happy that his sister is
meeting his new baby for the
first time. Robinson and his
wife have a four-month-old
son, Aaron.
Martin Kelly, at the ceremo-
ny to watch his son Tyler
Zinsli graduate, said having
Michelle Obama deliver the
commencement speech made
the occasion even more
momentous.
“She’s a very interesting and
articulate woman,” he said
before she spoke. “I’m very
excited to hear what she has to
See OSU on page 3
See OCBA on page 3
INDEX
News ......................2,3
Opinion ..................4,5
A & E ......................6,8
Bids/Classifieds ..........7
Breaking Racial Stereotypes on Nature
Greg Wolley named to Oregon Fish & Wildlife Commission
By Bruce Poinsette
Of The Skanner News
W
hen it comes to the outdoors, Greg
Wolley has been everywhere you
can imagine, defying many
stereotypes about African-Americans and
wildlife.
“They say Black people don’t bike, hike,
etc.,” he says. “Students of color are not see-
ing images of people in natural resources
that look like them — they don’t have role
models.”
On May 21, Wolley became the first
African-American to serve on the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife Commis-
sion (ODFW).
Besides increasing the participation of
people of color, Wolley wants to focus on
policies around hunting and fishing. He says
he wants to clarify how many and what
types of animals can be hunted and ensure
that the fish populations are strong and
healthy.
In addition to these agendas, he also wants
to look at the impact large mammals like
wolves, bears and cougars have on people’s
lifestyles. Lastly, Wolley wants to balance
See WOLLEY on page 3