t only entirely new, but it was composed
of men who lacked what would seem to be the elementary qualifications
for such a task; in fact, few if any of them had had any academic
training whatever. Nevertheless this did not in the least embarrass
them, and they proceeded at once to take a very active part in
University life. It soon became evident that there was a great
difference between their views as to the duties of the President, and
those of Dr. Tappan, who assumed that, as executive officer, his
authority in the internal affairs of the University and over the Faculty
was, under certain limitations, comprehensive and effective. He could
not see how the University could properly develop otherwise.

The new Regents, on the contrary, seemed to feel that not only the
administration of the University finances but a great share of the
legislative and administrative power rested with them; and they
proceeded to act upon that assumption. They prepared a set of rules for
the conduct of the University without consulting President Tappan, and
appointed a series of executive committees which seriously limited his
control. Certain of the Regents were particularly aggressive, especially
Levi Bishop, the Detroit member of the Board, who for a long period
wrote anonymous articles on the University in a Detroit paper, giving
his biased view of all that happened in the Regents' meetings. The Ann
Arbor Regent, Donald MacIntyre, whose banking office became the
unofficial center of University affairs, also proved himself unfriendly
to the President.

The Faculty, unfortunately, was divided in its sympathies. It may be
said that Dr. Tappan possessed the defects of his qualities. He showed a
certain lack of fellowship and understanding in dealing with some of his
associates and assumed, perhaps unconsciously, an air of authority and
an attitude of superiority which was resented. Where his pre-eminent
position was unquestioned, as in his relations with the students and
with the people of the State, the charm and graciousness of his manner
and his parental kindness won him universal friendship and respect.
Moreover Dr. Tappan was courageous, generous, and direct in all his
dealings, in spite of that touch of condescension. He insisted strongly,
however, on what he regarded as his prerogatives and exhibited a certain
lack of diplomacy and forbearance in dealing with the Regents and
Faculty, which under ordinary circumstances would have been