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.