Jeremiah Tate Passes Away

[Ruckus]

Wofford should require all freshmen to know how to swim?

[Eyes of Old Main]

Wofford should require all freshmen to know how to swim?

I've heard of that being a thing in some places back in the 60's, but I think it'd be a stretch to try that now.

[Terrier13]

Davidson still mandates that all freshmen pass a swimming test during orientation week or take a swimming class in your first semester there. Then again, they have both a lake and a pool as part of their Main/Lake campuses so that makes more sense for them.

[lawdog]

That makes sense to me. Fundamental swimming is an important life and personal-safety skill. Being able to swim also makes a person able to help others. It opens up a lifetime of water-sports opportunities such as sailing, kayaking, scuba diving, lap-swimming/conditioning, and fishing. It avoids personal embarrassment and bolsters confidence. It can be an important job skill/requirement. It instills respect for the water.

I suspect that among those who come to Wofford unable to swim are some from backgrounds where the chance or incentive to learn to swim was not available; fixing that would not cost much in time (just a few hours) or money. Our students could use pools at the Y and nearby schools. Students who can swim/instruct could teach as part of financial aid (e.g., Bonner Scholar, which Jeremiah was). It could happen as part of interim. No time like now.