The entirety of the documents shows a general disrespect for the Regents as individuals. No wonder that 3 years later in 1995 the Regents secretly forced Duderstadt to resign. On a more defensible tack, several questions were raised about the proper process for running a university. The 1963-64 Michigan Constitution's delegation of power to the Regents as statewide elected officials is criticized as subtly destroying university fiscal autonomy. The group questions the election system.
Problem is process on the way to board.
Now it is true that the election system process does little to inform the public about the differences between candidates. Governor John Engler has recommended gubernatorial appointment as an alternative, but this merely solidifies the current process. According to the documents, at other times, it seemed that these pesky little elected officials were just too intrusive. Keep the Regents 'dumb, distracted, divided'. Since Jim Duderstadt's administration intentionally subverted these officials, we should have little sympathy or surprise that they eventually subverted him.