要想从大学毕业应该怎么做呢？许多人或许都会说，你要做的就是上课并通过考试。但如果你在清华大学读书，要做的还不止这些。
Starting this September, freshmen at the university will have to take swimming courses. If they fail a swimming test at the beginning of their university course, they won’t receive their degree until they can pass the test successfully, according to an announcement by Tsinghua University president Qiu Yong.
从今年9月开始，清华大学的本科新生们将要上游泳课。据清华大学校长邱勇透露，如果学生们在大学课程开始时未能通过游泳测试，则无法获得学位，直到这些学生通过游泳测试为止。
Exceptions will be allowed for students with certain physical or mental conditions, if proved by medical staff.
但出现某些身体或精神状况的学生，如果提供医务人员开具的医学证明，则可不参加测试。
Liu Bo, head of the Division of Sports Science and Physical Education, explained why the university is
清华大学体育部主任刘波介绍了学校将游泳技能和学位挂钩的原因。
“As a requisite (必要的) survival skill, swimming is beneficial for students in the long run, since swimming is helpful in improving students’ endurance and does less harm to joints (关节) and muscles as a water sport,” he told China Daily.
“游泳是一项必备的生存技能，从长远来看，它对学生大有裨益，因为它能锻炼学生们的耐力。而且作为一项水中运动，游泳对关节和肌肉的损伤更小，”他在接受《中国日报》采访时表示。
Viewing the ability to swim as a must for students is not something new to this university – it was also a requirement in the early 20th century. It was later dropped due to a rising number of students and a lack of facilities (设施). Besides Tsinghua University, Peking University and Xiamen University have also listed swimming as a compulsory course for students.
将游泳视为一项必备技能对于这所大学来说并不是新鲜事儿 —— 清华大学在上世纪早期也有同样的要求。但由于学生人数增多以及场馆设施有限，这一要求后来被取消。除了清华大学之外，北京大学和厦门大学也将游泳列为学生的必修课。
However, the announcement has caused a heated debate.
然而，这一公告还是引发了一场激烈的讨论。
Some welcomed the new rule, saying it’s a necessary skill that can save lives.
一些人对这一新规表示支持，称这是个能救命的必备技能。
“Swimming is a fundamental (基本的) skill. [It’s] a way to stay healthy and is lifesaving in emergency situations. I believe making it mandatory (强制的) is necessary,” Yuan Jiaxiang, a junior in Tsinghua’s Department of Civil Engineering, told China Daily.
“游泳是一项基本技能。它不仅能强身健体，还能在紧急情况下救生。我认为强制学习游泳很有必要，”清华大学土木工程系大三学生袁家祥（音译）在接受《中国日报》采访时表示。
However, some said it has nothing to do with getting a degree.
然而，还有一些人认为游泳和拿学位毫无关系。
“It’s not reasonable (合理的) to require people to be able to swim for them to graduate,” Zheng Xiaoyu, a high school student from the Middle School Affiliated to Northern Jiaotong University, told China Daily. “For a lot of people who grew up in inland cities, learning how to swim as an adult will be difficult.”
“要求学生学会游泳才能毕业并不合理，”北方交通大学附属中学的高中生郑晓宇（音译）在接受《中国日报》采访时表示。“对于许多在内陆城市长大的人来说，成年后再来学游泳太难了。”
In fact, Chinese universities are not the only education organizations that encourage their students to swim. A few colleges in the United States – including Cornell, Columbia and MIT – offer swim classes to students. “Anything that prevents people from dying needlessly is a valuable skill,” Fred DeBruyn, director of aquatics (水上运动) at Cornell, told The New York Times.
事实上，并非只有中国大学鼓励学生学习游泳，美国的一些大学 —— 包括康奈尔大学、哥伦比亚大学以及麻省理工学院在内 —— 都为学生开设了游泳课。“任何能防止不必要伤亡的能力都是一项有价值的技能，”康奈尔大学水上运动项目负责人弗雷德·德布朗在接受《纽约时报》采访时表示。
