Every
year about 200 students fail the University's mandatory swimming
test and have to take eight weeks of swimming lessons.
The test requires students to complete four 25-meter lengths
of the Rolfs Aquatic Center pool demonstrating both front and
backstrokes.
The swimming requirement is believed to date to World War II,
when drowning was a more frequent cause of death and the Navy
encouraged colleges to institute swimming requirements and training.
At one time, before co-education, students swam the test nude.
(April 2005)
