Student Oral Histories

Listen to Oral Histories from EMU Students

  • Terry Auten, Oral History Interview, 2022

    In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Terry Auten was a student at EMU during the late 1960s and early 1970s who travelled to the National Student Conference on Vietnam, held at Cornell University and brought back to EMU his perspective on the War and increased student activism on campus.
  • Rob Musial, Oral History Interview, 2022

    In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Rob Musial was a student at EMU during the late 1960s and early 1970s, and editor of the Eastern Echo during that time. Rob was involved with reporting on campus demonstrations and student unrest during his time there, working to make the campus aware of what was going on.
  • Pat Fry, Oral History Interview, 2022

    In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Pat Fry was an EMU student in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She was a member of the Student Liberation Action Movement, wrote for underground newspaper The Second Coming, and Communist activist. Pat dedicated her life to fighting for equality and justice for all, continuing to be an advocate until she passed away in 2023.
  • John Enlund, Oral History Interview, 2022

    In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. John Enlund was a dedicated student activist on EMU's campus, member of Students for a Democratic Society, and one of the students arrested at McKenny Hall on campus during the People's Lounge Incident. He was involved with others like Frank Michels and Barry Simon during this time of student unrest, and left his mark on EMU.
  • Jan Kaulins, Oral History Interview, 2022

    In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Jan Kaulins was the supreme justice on the student court at EMU during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Jan was involved with the student unrest on campus, and ruled on important cases that were brought to the court, such as the Second Coming trials. He went on to graduate school at the University of Michigan after EMU.
  • Greg Fournier, Oral History Interview, 2022

    In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Greg Fournier is a current author and EMU alum who was witness to the student unrest on campus, which was happening at the same time John Norman Collins was committing his crimes. Now, Greg has written about John in his book, "Terror in Ypsilanti."
  • Gerald "Skip" Lawver, Oral History Interview, 2022

    In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Gerald "Skip" Lawver was an EMU student who served as an intelligence officer in the US Army, an instructor with the EMU Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), a sergeant with the EMU police force. Skip was a sergeant with EMU during the events that took place near EMU's campus in May of 1970, working to keep things under control.
  • Frank Michels, Oral History Interview, 2022

    In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Frank Michels was a student at EMU in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Frank was a student activist, a dedicated member of Students for a Democratic Society, and the creator of the underground newspaper, The Second Coming. He was a radical leader on campus who fought back against the administration's policies and their efforts to take his newspaper down.
  • Ed Mattos, Oral History Interview, 2022

    In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Ed Mattos was a student at EMU in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a student activist, most notably as the chairman of the Student Mobilization Committee. Mattos dedicated his time at EMU to being an activist, and was involved with demonstrations on campus.
  • Dennis Hertel, Oral History Interview, 2022

    In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Dennis Hertel was an EMU student in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Vice President of the student body, and president of the student senate, Hertel was involved in making important decisions regarding the status of student unrest and upset with EMU administration. He would go on to be a United States congressman.
  • Dave Barsky, Oral History Interview, 2022

    In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Dave Barsky was a student at EMU in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a dedicated student activist, and worked closely with others like Frank Michels on the Second Coming. Barsky was represented by the American Civil Liberties Union after getting expelled from EMU, and continued to be an activist leader.
  • Barry Simon, Oral History Interview, 2022

    In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Barry Simon was an EMU student in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a student activist involved in underground newspaper the Second Coming, and eventually arrested during the People's Lounge incident in McKenny Hall on EMU's campus. Simon would later become the student body president.
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