Dangerous diving

Some students keep cool by taking the plunge into the Connecticut River off the Ledyard Bridge, but that is not the only reason. "A big part of the excitement of jumping," said one student, "is that you're not allowed to do it." A "No Diving" sign is posted nearby, and town and campus police admonish students they see jumping during their patrols. Students, however, find it even more thrilling to beat the heat by swimming over to the Norwich side of the river.

"Fifteen or 20 years ago, the water was so dirty you wouldn't consider swimming in the river, much less jumping into it," said Tim Fisher, Ledyard and waterfront director. But now that the water is clean, he estimates that each day some 50 people, mostly students, jump from the bridge when the weather is warm. But he doesn't recommend it. Boat traffic and the danger of hitting an unseen, submerged log make jumping a dangerous gamble. "Hitting a solid object at the end of a 20-foot fall could cause paralyis," Fisher said, "and that's no laughing matter."