This is going to be remembered for all time as Columbia’s response to having a student protestor kidnapped and held prisoner by a budding authoritarian regime. It is unspeakable cowardice.

The broad part of the oar would need to be turned perpendicular to the water's surface though. It's an even slower technique if attempted as pictured.

I'm proud of my colleagues at Columbia U. Press for bringing us important works of literature in translation including recently two novels by Fang Fang.