Sponberg May Quit At EMU

YPSILANTI - Eastern Michigan University President Harold E. Sponberg is considering resigning.for health reasons, The News has learned. When contacted this morning, Sponberg said he would not resign at the Board of Regents meeting today but that he "is considering" resignation. Sources at EMU indícate Sponberg had discussed nis possible resignation with the regents at their retreat in February. . The sources indicated that Sponberg, because of his health problem, feit he might not be physically able to assume the "aggressive leadership" role EMU needs due to its decreasing enrollment. Eastern's enrollment has dropped steadily in the past, three years, leading ! the state's four-year institutions in percentage of enrollment decline. The regents have been discussing new programs for EMU as a way to combat the enrollment decline and also as a method of combating the "image" problem at the school. The source said the regents feel that if Sponberg is to resign, he must do it in i the near future so the Board will have a chance to name a new president before the new academie year - and the new (programs - begin. Sponberg, 54, carne to EMU in 1965, after serving as president of Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. He was vice fcresident of Northern Michigan University until 1961 when he took the Washnurn post. Earlier he had been assistant professor of English at Michigan State University, where he held several administrative posts.