By Steven Barker
Senior Staff Writer

While Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall is scheduled as the keynote speaker for California State University, Bakersfield’s June 13 commencement, a recent hip surgery renders his status as speaker uncertain.

As listed on Hall’s Facebook page, Hall suffered a fractured hip while leaving City Hall on Wednesday, May 28. Hall underwent successful hip surgery on Thursday, and Hall Ambulance spokesman Mark Corum said that the mayor has suffered no setbacks in his recovery.

According to webmd.com, people who have undergone hip surgery typically require the use of a walker, cane or crutches for several months after the surgery. Full recovery can take almost a year.

Media contacts from both Hall Ambulance and the Mayor’s Office both said it is unknown whether Hall will be available on June 13. In a commencement calendar provided by CSUB Director of Public Affairs and Communications Colleen Dillaway, Hall was the scheduled speaker for the commencement that included the following schools: Arts and Humanities, Business and Public Administration and Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering.

Hall’s contacts did not provide further comment.

In an email, Dillaway said the university is hopeful that Hall will be available for the commencement ceremony.

“We should know more tomorrow as to whether he’ll be able to join us as planned at commencement,” Dillaway said in an email. “He really does want to be here and will make every effort to, from what information we have.”

Dillaway said the university will refrain from sharing information regarding their contingency plan until Hall confirms whether he can or cannot speak at commencement.