A10 News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, November 25, 2015 EOU president touts available opportunities By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle JOHN DAY – Tom Ins- ko, new president of Eastern Oregon University, shared his vision for the institution at the Nov. 19 Grant County Chamber of Commerce open meeting. A group of about 25 met over lunch at the Outpost Restaurant, with Chamber president Jerry Franklin con- ducting the meeting. EOU in La Grande has had a good deal of turnover in presidents and interim presi- dents in recent years, and Ins- ko said he plans to be “the last one you will see for a long, long time – I’m here.” Insko has a background in the timber industry, and man- aged Boise Cascade in Idaho for the past 20 years, includ- ing several manufacturing facilities and up to 1,300 em- ployees. When the latest opening for president became avail- able, he said he and his wife chose to make the switch. “I decided to take a risk as a non-traditional candidate,” he said. “It’s truly an honor for me.” Insko started the job July 1 and said his decision centered on his love of EOU and East- ern Oregon, and the opportu- nity to help students pursue the pathway to their dreams. A graduate of EOU, Insko grew up on a farm near El- gin and graduated from Elgin High School in 1989. He earned bachelor’s de- grees in mathematics and business-economics at EOU and later received his master’s degree in business administra- The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Eastern Oregon University president Tom Insko speaks at the Grant County Chamber of Commerce meeting Nov. 19 at the Outpost Restaurant. Insko took the helm as EOU president on July 1 and said he plans to stay in the position for a “long, long time.” tion from the College of Wil- liam and Mary in Williams- burg, Va. Insko shared a few facts about EOU. Eastern has 3,500 students with 37 percent on campus, 49 percent online and 14 per- cent at regional centers. The campus population includes 74 percent Oregon residents, and half of those are from Eastern Oregon. Insko said the universi- ty has a long-term vision to break down the urban-rural divide, adding he would like the school to help students ¿nd opportunities with e[- isting industry and jobs, in- cluding state agencies and the departments of forestry and transportation. Regarding other career opportunities, Insko said, the need for educators, including bilingual teachers, is already high and will grow in the coming years. This year the university brought back the career cen- ter. He opened up the conver- sation to the audience, asking for their views on the univer- sity. The input ranged from “It’s a perfect setting and a good ¿t for kids who grow up here” to another who said his son “wants to e[perience something away – e[ploring the world.” Replying to the latter com- ment, Insko said, “I don’t think people understand what Eastern offers. EOU did me well, and it’s such a good value at the end of the day. I don’t want Eastern to be the best-kept secret.” He said if he had gone to a bigger university, he might not have become the leader he is today. “What I e[perienced as a student there were faculty members and administrators who took a personal interest in my success and develop- ment,” he said. “They sup- ported me and challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and develop skills that I never thought I had. They believed in me and what I could be and, with their support, I felt safe in doing that, so when I gradu- ated I was a con¿dent leader.” Rebuffed OFW appointees con¿rmed by Senate By Hillary Borrud Capital Bureau SALEM — The Oregon Senate have voted to confirm two members of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commis- sion whom Gov. Kate Brown 02972 Wonderful Booths Chock-full of treasures! Collectibles: Linens, Glassware, Silverware The Boutique Furniture Jewelry Pictures, Prints Bids MUST be RECEIVED AT COUNTY COURT on Dec. 2, by 9:00 a.m. to be accepted. Items may be viewed at the Road Department, 27941 Lower Yard Road, John Day OR between the hours of 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday. For further information, call (541) 575-0138. Sealed bids with Lot No. identified on the envelope must be received by the Grant County Court office, 201 S. Humbolt, No. 280, Canyon City OR no later than 9:00 am, December 2, 2015. 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The move was a reversal from earlier this year, when the Senate Committee on Rules delayed action on the two reappointments over concerns that commission- ers had failed to adequately oversee the Oregon Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife budget. The sport fishing industry and cattle ranchers had also called for the gover- nor to appoint commission- ers who represented their perspectives. Commission- ers are appointed to repre- sent Oregon’s congressional districts. The Senate voted 22-8 on Nov. 18 to confirm the two re-appointees, Holly Akenson of Enterprise, and Michael Finley of Med- ford. Akenson is a wildlife biologist, manages a tree farm with her husband and is an archery and rifle big game hunter, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website. Finley is president of a grant-making foundation, and previously served as superintendent of Yellowstone, Yosemite and Everglades national parks. He is also a hunter and an- gler. Ahead of the vote, Senate Republicans said they had been under the impression Brown would reconsider the reappointments. The Senate voted in May to confirm two other con- troversial appointees to the commission, Astoria resi- dent Bruce Buckmaster, who has ties to the commercial gillnet fishing industry and former state lawmaker Jason Atkinson of Jacksonville. “ You cannot continue to load the board with philosophical people that represent the big cities. It does not work. State Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton “You cannot continue to load the board with philo- sophical people that repre- sent the big cities,” said state Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton. “It does not work. ... The legislature deserves a lot of the credibility for this agen- cy going down the toilet, and the governor deserves a lot of credibility for this agency going down the toilet. I urge a ‘no’ vote.” Girod’s language dis- pleased Senate President Pe- ter Courtney, D-Salem. “Sen. Ted Ferrioli, try not using the word toilet, please,” Courtney said, as the Senate minority leader from John Day prepared to speak. Ferrioli said the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s budget trouble is an indication the commis- sion has not fulfilled its fi- duciary responsibility. “But there’s another issue here, and that is the credibil- ity of the governor and the credibility of the appoint- ments secretary,” Ferrioli said. “Members who voted unanimously (in committee) for the last round of appoint- ments to ODFW did so on the assurance there would be consideration of a sport ¿sh- ing member and a landowner. That did not happen. That to me is a breach of con¿dence and a sort of a disconnect be- tween credibility of the gov- ernor and the e[pectation that her asks will be respected.” Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Spring- ¿eld, said Akenson and Fin- ley do represent hunters and anglers. “I think the two people you have in front of you to- day to vote on are incredibly qualified,” Beyer said. “One of them indeed is a proper- ty owner and an agricultural person. Perhaps small scale, perhaps not the one people wanted, but she does meet that quali¿cation.” 7KLV VWRU\ ¿UVW DSSHDUHG LQWKH2UHJRQ&DSLWDO,QVLGHU QHZVOHWWHU 7R VXEVFULEH JR WRRUHJRQFDSLWDOLQVLGHUFRP FACEBOOKERS: Become an Eagle fan today! 650 W. Main, John Day, Oregon 97845 541-575-0264 1-888-575-0264 Fax 541-575-2538 162 W. Front, Prairie City, Oregon 97869 541-820-4601 541-820-4725 Go to: facebook.com/ MyEagleNews 2036 Broadway, Baker City, Oregon 97814 541-523-5535 1-888-677-5581 Fax 541-523-3471 301 S Main St., Pendleton, Oregon 97801 541-278-6800 Fax 541-278-6805 1739 N. First St., Hermiston, Oregon 97838 541-564-0264 Fax 541-564-0262 02983