Ohio University’s Reserve Officers Training Corps gave civilians a glimpse into their daily operations Wednesday with the help of a wall and some ropes.
OU students and Athens community members were all drawn to Lindley Hall with the promise of free food and the chance to scale the side of the hall.
Cadets must enroll in military-style classes and train while in school. This event was part of the laboratory section of Fundamental Military Leadership Concepts, MSC 1010, said John Hansen, recruiting officer for OU’s Army ROTC.
Scaling the side of Lindley is an annual practice for ROTC cadets.
“This is a tradition we do every fall,” said Hansen.
This is the first time in many years that civilians have also been offered the chance to take part in the event. Army ROTC cadets and officials want to show everyone what the experience is actually like, he said.
“I think it’s a great way for ROTC to show students what they do and how they practice, plus it gets other students involved,” said Carrie Smith, a junior studying fine arts who observed the rappelling Wednesday.
Six Alpha Delta Pi sorority sisters came to scale the building in order to experience what one of their sisters, a member of ROTC, does every day.
“It takes a lot of discipline and time, and you have to be mature,” said Leah Hourihan, a junior studying journalism.
Hourihan said she was impressed by the knowledge of the cadets and felt safe in their hands.
“Before you went up, you received instructions,” she said. “They are really good at what they are doing and are willing to teach someone else.”
When civilians signed up to take part, they were given an example of the slope to expect on the Lindley steps. Air Assault cadets were stationed both above and below the scaling wall to ensure proper procedure and safety, Hansen said.
“I can’t believe people are actually doing this,” said Smith, who declined to rappel down the hall’s side. “I would be too scared.”
The event was also used to bring people together. ROTC was encouraging their freshmen cadets to get to know the upperclassmen, while several groups around campus, such as learning community groups and the OU women’s field hockey team, used the free event to get to know each other and establish a sense of community, Hansen said.
“We want ROTC to be intertwined with the Athens community,” he said.
bl171210@ohiou.edu
