My alma mater, the University of Chicago, recently abolished its requirements for physical fitness, swimming competency, or physical education and swimming classes. I'd say I don't like to play the nerdier-than-thou card or the back-in-my-day card, but I love to play them both, especially in conjunction with each other. So, back in my day, when the University was actually filled with nerds, we were required to display physical competency and knowledge of swimming or to take courses (for no academic credit) in swimming and physical fitness or physical activities. For my part, I passed the swim test, but took Conditioning and Yoga. And the party line was that in order to cultivate the life of the mind, one must recognize that your mind is not a brain in a vat (or at least does not seem like one). Rather, your mind is connected to your body, and learning to train your body helps your train your mind. That party line is a good one because it's true.
John Boyer, perpetual Dean of the College, who has been elected to yet another term in the position, argues that the physical education requirement was not established until 1953 and never was associated with academic credit, so the abolishment of required courses (or testing out of them) is really preserving the overall character of the university. Furthermore, offering a wider variety of voluntary courses is good for students. However, this hides the athletic roots of the place, and ignores the truth that left to our own devices, we don't choose gym courses. The University was home to the finest coach in football history, Amos Alonzo Stagg, and the first Heisman Trophy winner, Jay Berwanger. One of our most revered scholars, Edwin Hubble, was most known in his college days as a track star and a basketball champion. A U of C - affliated astronaut brought a game ball with him on a mission to repair the athlete's namesake. (http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/437780main_image_1629_946-710.jpg) And before varsity sports were abolished in the College in 1939, the culture of athletics was so pervasive it was problematic. Walking into Bartlett hall, you see the IM records of the early days of the university, and a banner "For the Glory of Manly Sports". When the physical education requirement was established, enough time had passed for athletics to be missed on campus. In fourteen years, complacency about the care of the body had afflicted the life of the mind. Must we afflict the life of the mind again?
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