Perhaps second only to the core curriculum as Columbia's oldest tradition, the Columbia swim test is among the school's more eccentric requirements. Many describe the test as a sort of emergency evacuation training, it is said that it originated during the American Revolution as a way to ensure that students could jump in the Hudson and swim to safety in the event of the British attacking Manhattan. CTV News investigated just how well the swim test is preparing us for the threat of a British invasion.

According to Professor Ken Jackson from the Department of History, "From New York, it's serious swimming to swim away from Manhattan Island.The Columbia swim test is not that long."

Professor Jerry McManus from the Department of Earth and Environmental Science agreed, saying, "The requirement, I believe, is 75 yards. It's not nearly to the safe shores of New Jersey."

Barnard Environmental Science Professor Peter Bower explained another reason why jumping into the Hudson might not be the best idea: "We've doing rather extensive studies of the bacteria related to human sewage in the Hudson. We, for many years, watched raw sewage go into the Hudson through these big pipes about every twenty blocks."

McManus echoed the concern, noting, "There are new contaminants that have not been regulated entering the streams, and these flow into the Hudson." He also explained that, though the river is much cleaner now, there were once "long term health concerns: carcinogens, PCBs, lead content..."

Bower, however, thinks that, should the British attack, it is worth braving the muddy waters. "Now, if New York City were to be attacked, I wouldn't worry about the bacteria in the river. If you can swim across, go! Go for it. Watch the currents; be careful with the currents; use the currents, and you should be fine."

Jackson disagreed, saying, "We'd probably take as many casualties doing that as if we decided to stand and fight, because a lot of us would drown. I'm unaware of a single American during the American Revolution who swam to freedom."

McManus echoed the concern: "It's very likely that students would not make it to anywhere near the safety of New Jersey.If every Columbia undergraduate dove into the Hudson River how many might make it across to New Jersey? My guess would be only a handful."

Jackson proposed a more useful swim test: "I guess I could lead an all-night swim where everyone at Columbia could meet at the sundial at midnight and we'd creep toward the river and swim toward New Jersey."

Though it may not be the best method of escaping the British, Columbia's swim test remains a graduation requirement for all Columbia College students. So if you are an excellent swimmer and don't mind some sewage, the good news is you can make it safely across the Hudson. The bad news--you'll be stuck in New Jersey.