Sixty feet is a long way down.

That’s what Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin learned today as she rappelled down a 60-foot building.

“I wondered what I was doing once I got up there,” Martin joked.

Martin joined more than 30 students in EMU’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program today as they rappelled down the side of Roosevelt Hall on EMU’s campus in Ypsilianti.

“It’s crazy,” she said with a laugh. “I grew up on a farm and we had a silo that was 50 feet and I thought that was pretty tall, but…”

The students rappelled as part of their Army-based training. Martin did it to meet a challenge offered last year by ROTC students.

“They talked to me about rappelling and I just said yes,” she recalls.

Martin said she took the descent nice and slow.

“I just did little bounces,” she said. “One step at a time.” So, did her fellow adventure seekers cheer her on?

“Yes,” Martin said. “They were very supportive and happy that the president would be crazy enough to rappel down the building with them.”

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

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Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin rappels down the side of Roosevelt Hall on Thursday afternoon. The president decided to join the ROTC in their once-a-semester activity to show her support for the program.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

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