Tom Mayer (U of M Professor of Sociology)

Tom Mayer was a professor at the University of Michigan from 1964 until 1969 and taught classes on sociology, mathematical modeling, social change, analysis of revolutions, and Marxist theory. Professor Mayer was a speaker at the original 1965 Teach-in, as well as several other teach-ins at the University of Michigan throughout the Vietnam War. He was also a participant of the 1965 Selective Service Sit-in, which he served several days in jail for in consequence. Professor Mayer was active throughout his time at the University of Michigan in anti-war protests. In 1969, he did not receive tenure from the University. Professor Mayer then moved to teach at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he continued being involved in anti-war and social justice activism.

Interview of Tom Mayer by Obadiah Brown, Chris Haughey and Maria Buczkowski on March 25th, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Part 1: Tom Mayer discusses when he was a professor at the University of Michigan, what he taught, what the anti-draft movement was like as a professor, and his experience in the October 1965 Selective Service Sit-in.

Part 2: Tom Mayer discusses the main forms of draft resistance during the anti-war movement.

Part 3: Tom Mayer discusses the military research being done at the University of Michigan as well as the repsonses to military recruiters coming to campus.

Part 4: Tom Mayer discusses ROTC protests and why he did not gain tenure at the University of Michigan.

Part 5: Tom Mayer discusses the anti-war movement elsewhere in the United States as well as a story of his mistake of helping a friend at the University of Colorado.

Part 6: Tom Mayer discusses the radicalization of the University of Michigan campus during the anti-war movement as well as the legacy of the movement.

Tom Mayer (U of M Professor of Sociology)

Interviews