CITING HEALTH REASONS, EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DR. PAUL STANTON, JR. HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS RETIRING FROM THE POST. STANTON WILL OFFICIALLY STEP DOWN ON MARCH 1ST, 2009. HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT DURING THE ETSU FOUNDATION’S ANNUAL MEETING AT THE MILLENIUM CENTRE. STANTON, WHO IS ETSU’S EIGHTH PRESIDENT, SAID HE WILL MAINTAIN STRONG TIES WITH THE UNIVERSITY AFTER RETIRING, POSSIBLY TO SERVE IN AN EMERITUS STATUS.