Thank you so much for the article by Boer Deng ’10 on the elimination of the swim test as a graduation requirement [“Sink or Swim,” July/August]. On reading the title I found myself indignant at its demise—the swim test was one of the reasons I chose to go to Dartmouth. Having nearly drowned in a swimming pool and at the beach as a child, I was afraid of water. The swim test provided me with a do-or-die mentality to face that fear and learn to swim. And “swim” I did … failing three times before floating my way down and back in the pool while the men’s swim coach looked on in disbelief. That test meant a lot to me, though Deng’s article brought to light the disparity suffered by many. Thank you for continuing to educate us beyond graduation. I hope that students unable to swim will still get all the encouragement, support, and opportunities to learn in the safe haven of the College before they graduate to roam—and swim—around the girdled earth.
STEPHANIE ARGAMASO ’96
Astoria, New York
This article suggests that the College should say to students who can’t swim, “We’d prefer you remain unequal,” rather than, “Can’t swim? Let us teach you.”
AL CHAKER ’84
Troy, Virginia
“Eliminating the test was a small move to address the many problems of inequity found at any Ivy League campus,” concludes Boer Deng. I couldn’t disagree more. The swim test requirement directly addresses the inequity, and eliminating the requirement perpetuates it.
Deng correctly points out that most of the undergraduates who can’t swim are from disadvantaged backgrounds and didn’t have the opportunity to learn. Here now is their opportunity; and they should seize it.
Almost any Dartmouth undergraduate can learn to swim. The real hurdle is confronting their embarrassment or fear. This hurdle is not trivial, but accommodating its avoidance is not the lesson we want to teach future leaders.
ROBERT GOLDBLOOM ’81
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
When it comes to the swim test, I would much rather hear from the “shaky and anxious” swimmer in the next lane than from the writer who supposes their feelings.
I’m curious if that once-nervous swimmer can now enjoy the beach or lake with less fear. If we asked them, would they say they regret learning to swim or tell us how much learning to swim opened the world?
No wonder they are anxious: Go to any final exam and you will see the same nerves on display. We go to college to learn things we cannot do. We have requirements because without them, we likely wouldn’t do the hard stuff. How many fewer brilliant papers or stories would we write if they were optional? Shall we do away with writing requirements because certain students had more experience with writing in their earlier educations?
As long as Dartmouth gives students the tools to succeed, I see no reason why having mandatory requirements, from distributives to the swim test, is an unreasonable request.
Perhaps this magazine can poll the non-swimmers of years past and hear their thoughts.
EVAN KELMAR ’20
London, England
The vote by the faculty in 2022 to abandon the century-old swim requirement because students from less-fortunate backgrounds were more likely to fail is woke at its worst.
This is analogous to universities dropping the requirement for SATs because students of color generally have worse scores. Would dropping a test at age 17 miraculously solve inferior educational opportunities between the ages of 6 and 16? Wouldn’t a more logical approach be to retain the SAT as a measuring tool and work on ways to equalize educational opportunities for all children?
The swim requirement forced students to take free swimming lessons to graduate. By doing so, it undoubtedly saved lives.
More than 4,000 Americans—or about 11 each day—drown annually. Sometime in the future, a Dartmouth graduate who never learned to swim will drown. Maybe then the swim requirement will be reinstated, named after that poor alumnus who gave their life to prevent more tragic, preventable deaths.
EMIL CHYNN ’87
New York City
Getting rid of the swim test because of inequality? What a woke rationalization. It was one aspect of the Dartmouth experience that made us unique. Perhaps a better response would have been to increase the test to 100 yards (two laps). That would have made swimming a real skill.
FREDERICK MacMILLAN ’66
Dublin, New Hampshire
Ms. Deng’s “Sink or Swim” on the 2022 abolishment of the swim test requirement forced me to wonder how many Dartmouth lives had been saved and how much self-confidence elevated as results of the requirement.
It seems the Dartmouth faculty chose to perpetuate the inequity of access to swim lessons rather than helping students overcome that inequity by learning to swim. There’s obvious widespread inequity in students’ academic preparation for college. Should the faculty abolish academic requirements for graduation, too?
I hope President Beilock’s common sense approach might lead to the lifesaving reinstatement of the swim test requirement.
MATT DWYER ’75
Boston
The point of the swim test was to identify students for free instruction so that they wouldn’t drown. I think it’s sad that soi-disant progressives are congratulating themselves about this step backwards, but hey: “equal opportunity in drowning.”
Stay away from the Connecticut, kids.
JAMES WATKINS ’84
Snowmass Village, Colorado
The ending of the swim requirement by Dartmouth was just one more step toward the end of the well-rounded student as a product of the College.
Every few years we get rid of some other requirement that was one of the keystones of a Dartmouth education.
No one probably remembers that all in my class had to take comprehensive exams at the end of our college career to determine what we learned as students at Dartmouth. It was kind of scary, but we survived it, often very proud of ourselves for what we came away with in the form of a lasting education.
I fear Dartmouth is trying to become just another Ivy League school instead of something that stands out—a place students can obtain something better and different from what is offered anywhere else.
GLENN K. CURRIE ’65
Concord, New Hampshire
I am disturbed that the swim requirement has been eliminated. I do not look forward to reading in the news that some Dartmouth alum has drowned because they couldn’t swim. Rather than eliminating this requirement, we should press for other schools to have the same requirement.
ANNE BARSCHALL ’78
Tarrytown, New York
“Sink or Swim” brought back some memories. When I arrived in Hanover in September 1966, the swimming requirement was staring me in the face. Growing up on Long Island, I had taken swimming lessons but never felt comfortable in the water. As it turned out, I was a “sinker,” not a “floater.” Lacking natural buoyancy, I was always fighting myself when I tried to swim.
I was not at all sure I could swim 50 yards but gave it a shot. It went OK for the first 25 yards, but then I swallowed some water and had to abandon the effort. This sentenced me to swimming lessons under the tutelage of legendary coach Karl Michael. It was rather neat to have a former Olympic coach but jumping into a cold pool at 8 a.m. was far from the college experience I had envisioned.
After several such torturous sessions, I asked if I could give the test another try. I felt better than usual at the turn and managed to tough out the last 25 yards, basically holding my breath most of the way. Victory!
JOHN TULLY ’70
Needham, Massachusetts
To borrow a tangled bit from David Shribman ’76, a cigar is sometimes just a cigar [“Artifact,” July/August], and at times smart people overthink simple things—such as trying to make students at least potentially water safe. They might learn that water safety is truly important, especially for kids. I don't know how many kids drown in an average year, but it is far too many.
I was a partial scholarship kid and athlete from a large, blue-collar Boston Irish Catholic family. Money was tight. I didn’t know how to swim but was eager to take advantage of the many activities available at Dartmouth. I don’t feel that this requirement was unfair, biased, or onerous. Having spent five and a half decades in public service, I believe that this, too, for some was a public service—another opportunity among so many at the College.
We taught our kids beginner swimming at a very young age. Our daughter qualified for lifeguard duty after competitive swimming in junior high. She found a younger child lifeless on the bottom of a local pool and brought him to the surface. Fortunately, he survived. This was 30 years ago.
I question whether Dartmouth did the right thing and how much of that decision was pure politics.
JOE FAHEY ’69
Hull, Massachusetts
Perhaps elimination of the swimming test was short sighted in view of the following statistics: “Drowning is a much larger danger to children. It’s the No. 1 cause of death for kids ages 1 to 4, and one of the top killers of children ages 5 to 14. The drowning rate is higher for white kids in the younger group but much higher for Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native children in the older group.”
Elimination of the swim test bothers me in part because of these statistics and the fact that it is far harder to learn to swim as an adult. I swim at a local rec center, where the majority of learners are young children.
R. HENRY MOORE ’72
Bridgeville, Pennsylvania
Chalk me up as another alum who believes that removing the swimming requirement is a mistake. In fact, the College should up the fitness requirements.
In my retirement I am spending a lot of time with kids programs, and the striking thing is the kids’ lack of fitness. Sure, there are lots of runners and fitness buffs, but the people who need that last little bit of discipline before they leave college are the ones who benefit most from required courses. Today, mental health is a big problem among kids, and one of the best things for it is a good dose of vigorous aerobic exercise a couple of times per week. Teach them to budget their time to get it done—don’t let it be put off until the week before graduation.
BILL PICKARD ’71, Tu’76
Seattle
