When Tom Hayden arrived at the University in the late ’50s and became a voice on campus through his reporting in The Michigan Daily, Al Haber, an older student and campus activist, knew he had to recruit Hayden for his social justice group. Together, Hayden and Haber worked to further Students for a Democratic Society, becoming icons for ’60s liberalism that in many ways began at the University.

Haber would go on to participate in the first teach-in ever to be held, while Hayden made his name by protesting the Vietnam War through his leadership in rallies in the ’60s, particularly those outside the Democratic National Convention in 1968.

Hayden, Haber and other activists will reunite today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the teach-ins, which came into existence at Angell Hall in 1965 and have since then been scattered throughout the University’s history when activists have desired a forum to express their beliefs or encourage dialogue on government policies or social injustices. Today’s teach-in will feature University professors, as well as a few participants of the original teach-in 40 years ago, who will talk about topics ranging from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to mass media and corporatism.

While the first teach-in was supported by the administration, in that they saw it as a trade-off to discourage a faculty strike, some students, activists and faculty members have expressed discontent in what they see as the administration and faculty’s lack of support for today’s teach-in and the overall shift from the atmosphere of progressivism that existed on campus.

Hayden said part of the reason that the climate on campus has changed is because the momentum of the war protests in the ’60s was driven by the draft and the fact that young men could be drafted without having voted for their representatives, since the voting age was 21 at the time. With no draft right now, the reaction is not as dramatic because it does not as directly affect this generation, many professors said.

But most attributed the change to a lack of interest among faculty. The original teach-in took place when faculty members threatened to cancel class so that they could debate Vietnam policy with their students. Even with government pressure that the professors were in violation of their contracts, then-University President Harlan Hatcher agreed to allow University buildings to stay open after-hours to appease the faculty and allow campus-wide dialogue on the topic.

The administration has always been against teach-ins and for the status quo, but this type of faculty support that existed for the first teach-in is not the same now, said Women’s Studies Assistant Prof. Andrea Smith.

“In the ’60s, there were professors coming out with more accountability. People have become more career-oriented and less focused on social justice, expect for in a more abstract way,” she said.

Students echoed Smith, saying that faculty support would help their event achieve more success. LSA senior and teach-in organizer Emily Hilliard said students organizing such events must overcome additional hurdles without the support of faculty.

“Mostly the older generation that we talked to expected this (lack of support from the University community),” Hilliard said. “When the older generation doubts us, it doesn’t help.”

But some have focused their criticism on the administration. Among these critics is Haber, who said he has sent letters to University President Mary Sue Coleman, inviting her to support the teach-in and encourage students who wish to “challenge the future,” rhetoric from Coleman’s own speech.

“(My letter urged her to be proud of the students for holding this (teach-in) that was developed at the University of Michigan. I thought the administration would be glad to say that the students are looking at the world in a critical way,” Haber said. “But they’re nothing like that, they’re silent. They’re not willing to express a warm affirmation, a support for student initiative or anything that is politically controversial. That’s too bad,” he added.

Hayden agreed that acknowledgement from the University would be a fitting gesture; while student organizers said they found the University’s silence to be hypocritical because the administration had previously taken a stance on political issues. In the last year, Coleman has opposed divestment from Israel, as well as passage of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, which would end affirmative action in Michigan and has stood by offering same-sex benefits to University employees.