US & UK: Sports Culture

Last week I attended the talk led by Paul Wilcox. Though I had no direct interest in sports, my younger brother runs track very seriously so I decided to sit in on this presentation. I found it very interesting how the athletic culture in the U.S. and U.K. were so drastically different in ways I had never thought about before. For example, in the U.S., former athletes are encouraged, and even honored, by large donations to their Alma mater. However, in the U.K., such a practice was not as encouraged. In addition, I found the discussion of the athletes dedication to travel such long, and likely uncomfortable at times, distance was very inspiring to see. I admired the passion of the athletes and through their dedication I gained an appreciation for the culture of sports that I had not previously had. I will definitely look forward to more events like this in the future.

Sports and Random Thoughts

Paul Wilcox engaged us in a discussion about the Transatlantic Series. Noting the transformative potential of sports, Wilcox noted that they bring people together. As an Honorary Secretary of the Achilles Club, he was able to offer some interesting perspectives about the different. We were able to see photos and videos of athletes at different times in history. As someone who loves to go into the archives to look at materials, this was an especially impactful thing for me to be able to see in the talk.

 I immediately thought of the ways in which sports can be a form of exchange and bring people together, but also how they can maintain barriers and reflect systems of power. I read “What is Intersectionality” in Intersectionality by Patricia Hill Collins and Sirma Bilge for one of my courses, and it illuminated how different power structures come into play on a field that is often portrayed as equal when the players are on it. However, behind the scenes, there are much larger power structures at play. For example, interpersonal interactions can play a huge factor in performance on the field. Bilge and Collins give the example of a Nigerian player on a professional soccer team who was subject to racial epithets from both fans and teammates. These mechanism are a part of a broader system of economic, social, and political marginalization. At times, we forget that these structures creep into our forms of entertainment that are seemingly “fair” and meritocratic. However, they are important and play a large factor in outcomes on an interpersonal and broader level.

Ivy League goes England

Cornell has a lot of unique features in its athletic program because of its membership in the Ivy League. The Transatlantic series is one of those features. Even though I am a big sports fan, I had never heard of this track and field event. Throughout the presentation i recognized a few of the names like Roger Bannister and I read about the Penn Relays in high school, but it was interesting to learn about how the Ivy League competes against Oxford and Cambridge. One interesting tidbit that Mr. Willcox conveyed to us was that for the English teams when they travel to the U.S., they spend about 15 days moving throughout the different campuses and then to New York City and that the dates in which the competition takes place, usually coincides with the English examination period. He also said that in between events, some students will often be seen study for their upcoming exams. This reminded me of the cafe from earlier in the year when the Cornell tennis coach told us a story about how one of his athletes had to drive to and from a tournament while also attending all of his classes. A common perception is that university athletes have it easy and dont have to try as hard in school. These individuals discussed put this perception to shame. One of the themes of the talk was to look at life in a different way and after hearing Mr. Willcox describe the schedules that these athletes have and the performance that they have to obtain both on and off the track is truly astonishing.

A Trip Overseas: Cultural Exchange and the Transatlantic Series

Last Wednesday, I listened to Paul Wilcox speak at the Rose Cafe on the Transatlantic Series. I went into the event questioning why I signed up to listen to a talk about a sporting event when I have zero interest in sports. I was pleasantly surprised that I could relate to the talk, for while it was about sports, it also was about cultural exchange. I find it fascinating to consider the fact that there were groups of American college students in the late 1800s, many of them from Cornell, who were getting on a boat and traveling across the Atlantic. Nowadays, this does not seem as big of a deal, since traveling to England only requires less than a day of flying by plane, but back then this was a major commitment. Traveling across the Atlantic took days, and there still was the return trip. This seems like it was a massive endeavor for a group of college students, just for a track and field meet. This idea of an international sporting event was quite new at the time–not even the Olympics had started yet–and it seems astonishing to me that such an event could be pulled off during this time. The fact that this tradition has been able to remain for so long–as well as the fact that there were those willing to put in the effort to have this event back in the time before airplanes–suggests that the chance to actually experience a different culture was worth the effort.

The Transatlantic Series is for NARPs too

Last Wednesday my fellow Rose Scholars and I were lucky enough to learn about an event that is close to Dr Hill, the Transatlantic Series. Paul Willcox, the president of the organization, gave us a presentation that displayed both the history and the importance of this event. It was emphasized how much the series can help broaden the track and field team’s world view while also strengthening their relationships and building ties with friends overseas. This even goes as far as affecting some of the travelers’ career paths, as Willcox mentioned one athlete who visited the US during the Great Depression and went on to become a global economist as a result.

I can only imagine the life changing experiences that these travelers have. I was fortunate enough to meet some of the captains before they had a dinner Thursday night. In the brief period I spent talking to them, I was able to learn a bit about the education differences in the UK, as well as their experiences in the US. I found it incredibly amusing hearing about what their take on Cornell was, specifically their take on drinking and American parties was great to hear.

I wish that I had been able to speak with them longer, as our conversations were cut short by their meal and my prelim. I was able to take so much out of 15 minutes talking to 3 of the athletes, I can only imagine what spending a few days with them would do. Hopefully, in the future Dr. Hill and Mr. Willcox will recognize that these travels are not only an opportunity for the athletes to broaden their world view, but they also pose opportunities for us NARPs (non-athletic regular people) to as well.

Universities Coming Together

Last Wednesday, I got to learn about track and field and the Transatlantic Series. What stood out to me from the talk was the aspect of bringing different schools together to enjoy a common interest. The different perspectives gained from this are very interesting. From my own experience with the Esports at Cornell club, having Overwatch teams from Cornell play against teams from other schools, even just over the internet, is really enjoyable. Not only does everyone improve from the experience, but even the little discussions between the players over the internet can be rather entertaining and interesting. In fact, considering the mutual benefits of bringing universities together for Esports and sports in general, we hope to have tournaments in person with other universities in the future!

Running Running Running

This past Wednesday, I learned more than I ever thought I could at the Rose Cafe. Paul Wilcox was the esteemed speaker. What drew me to his talk was his credentials. He graduated from Eton College and Corpus Cristi, Cambridge. It amazed me so much I had to hear whatever he had to say, regardless of the topic. Little did I know it’d be about track and field.

He discussed the history of track and field in Cambridge/Oxford and the Ivy Leagues. I did not know how much history and monumental moments in track and field were created by graduates of even my own school. In my mind, I think of Cornell as a great school in academics but never really athletics. But when he talked about how one track and field star and Cornellian broke world record! Thats incredible! Especially with his British accent, Paul Wilcox was able to capture the very full audience and entertain us the entire time (which is very rare for an hour long talk).

Although I can continue to talk about his great talk in track and field, I was actually very interested in the first 5 minutes of introduction more. Paul Wilcox is a shipbroker! I was so amazed at his profession, for it is rare to be in attendance of a talk from a non-academic. His career path as a ship valuer is just so interesting. Not only is he a busy man in career, but he spends his time dedicated to preserving the history and value of the track and field community. He truly is an amazing person and has had an amazing life path.

Thank you so much for talking to us! I definitely recommend to hear him speak if anyone is able to.

The Transatlantic Series

Tonight’s Rose Café focused on the Transatlantic Series which is a series of track and field competitions between American universities and universities from the United Kingdom. I was previously unaware of the rich history of the series and I enjoyed learning more about the competition. It was interesting to learn that Oxford and Cambridge Universities team up to compete against two North American universities. It must be an interesting experience for the athletes to compete on the same team as their rivals; however, maybe national pride unites the athletes during the competition.

I think it would be interesting to create a similar series in different sports. However, I cannot imagine basketball or football athletes from different institutions temporarily combining into a signal team. Perhaps swimming is a good candidate for a similar transatlantic competition series.

The speaker tonight also displayed great passion for the games. It was clear that the games have had a large impact on his world view. I think his passionate speaks strongly to the value of cultural exchanges at a relatively young age. It would also be valuable to have such a cultural exchange with student-athletes from countries with greater differences. Athletics is a great way to bond and these interactions could go a long way toward increasing sensitivity between nations and cultures.

I was happy to learn about a tradition that Cornell is deeply involved in.

Sports and Cultural Differences

This Wednesday I was able to participate the talk given by the Honorary Secretary of the Achilles Club, Mr. Paul Willcox. To be honest, I do not have much knowledge about sports. I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the history of transatlantic series, which started two years before the Olympics Games.

Every year, athletes in the U.S. go to England to compete as well as experience their cultures; and athletes from Oxford and Cambridge come to U.S. colleges to do the same. As a matter of fact, the athletes are in Cornell right now.

There are two things that Mr. Willcox mentioned that I find very interesting. First of all, the athletes coming from England to compete are also under the pressure of studying for their finals, which will take place right after they go back to England. While the U.S. athletes will go to England in June, they will be more relaxed, since they have already finished their finals. But athletes in England might be in a disadvantageous situation because they will be out of school for a while, which means they will not be in training for sometime. I have always wonder how do athletes balance their academics and training. For me, I do not join too many clubs or extracurricular activities simply because homework takes up too much of my time. I cannot imagine how much pressure athletes have from both school work and sports. Second of all, Mr. Willcox mentioned that the funding provided for athletes to come to the U.S. is rather limited. While in the U.S., the culture of giving is very prevalent and alumni make big donations, in England, donation is quite difficult. Mr. Willcox explained that this is due to cultural differences. In England, people are more low key about their lives and tend to hide their wealth; whereas in the U.S., success is more acknowledged and celebrated, which justify the act of donating. This difference is also discernible from daily conversations. When being asked ‘how’s it going’, in England, people tend to reply with ‘could be worse’, whereas people in t he U.S. tend to reply with ‘I’m good’. It is very interesting to see that even though we speak the same language, cultural differences have a profound impact on the institutions and systems of particular regions.

In short, this talk was very insightful as it went beyond the history of sports and touched the social and cultural aspects beneath it.

Comparing the U.S. and U.K. Through Sports

On Wednesday, I went to the Rose Cafe hosted by Mr. Paul Wilcox, the Honorary Secretary of the Achilles Club – a club for Oxford and Cambridge track and field athletes. It was interesting to learn about what it was like to be an athlete in the late 1890s and 1900s. I learned that the Transatlantic Series had brought a team across the Atlantic before the Olympic games had started.

We learned about some important figures in these competitions, namely Charles Sherrill, who pioneered the crouched starting position for running in 1894. Eddie Gourdin, an African-American, set the world record for long jump: 25 ft, 3 in – a huge win. Another record was Roger Bannister running a mile in under 4 minutes. The many photos and videos that Mr. Wilcox showed us truly captured these momentous occasions, while also showing how these competitions have changed over the years, along with athletic clothing and training methods.

Mr. Wilcox brought up what an experience it was for a team to travel together across an ocean on a ship for a week. They had the opportunity to see a different culture and perspective. He also discussed some differences between the U.S. and U.K., particularly greetings and donating to your alma mater. In the U.S., it is strongly encouraged to donate to your alma mater, yet frowned upon in the U.K. Attitudes are also different: asking “How are you” to an American may bring a “Pretty good” response, while in the U.K., one may respond “Not too bad.”

Overall, this talk broadened my understanding of athletics from an international perspective. I learned quite a lot, especially how much training is required to excel as a world-class athlete in track and field. I look forward to future Rose Cafes to keep expanding my knowledge.

Cultural Differences Through Sport

Yesterday I had an opportunity to listen to a talk made by Mr. Paul Wilcox about the Transatlantic Series, a track and field series which was first contested 2 years before the olympic games with contestants from prestigious institutions in England and America. It was quite fortuitous that I stumbled upon this talk as earlier in the day I noticed a group of athletes speaking with English accents and assumed they were at Cornell for a track and field meet. Little did I know that that night I would be able to learn more about and partake in the rich history of this event with a long and rich tradition.

The talk was an interesting exploration about the role sports plays in society and higher education. In particular, I really liked how Mr Wilcox talked about how sports can be used as a tool to bridge the gap between cultural and organizational differences. According to Mr Wilcox, when traveling with a group of people who are passionate about a sport, you often bond because of this shared love in an unfamiliar setting. The series is also a great opportunity for British students to learn more about life in American higher education and vice versa, learning more about the differences in culture through interactions with students and faculty. One observation in particular that I found interesting was how the differences in how people great each other mirrors cultural norms. As Professor Hill put it, in America when you ask people how they are doing, people would often respond with “good” or some similar variation. In England, people instead respond by saying “not to bad”, showing that boastfulness is looked down upon in England much more compared to America.

Another difference that Mr Wilcox pointed out that I found interesting is the spirit of giving. In America, rich alumnus are encouraged and sometimes expected to donate to their Alma Mater after becoming successful. In England, quite the opposite belief is held. Instead, the mere act of donating to your Alma Mater is considered an ostentatious act of bragging and is highly discouraged. While English is the official language in both UK and America, cultural differences is an area that people from both countries can stand to become more educated about. Hence it is important for the Olympics and the Transatlantic Series continue to be held in order to bridge the differences that separate nations in this rich tapestry of the world.

Finding Unity in Competition

Paul Wilcox’s discussion of the Transatlantic Series and the Achilles Club really underscored how coming together through sports, competition, and shared passions creates a common ground from which people with different backgrounds and worldviews can come together to learn from perspectives that are different from their own. I rowed throughout my four years of high school, and each year, members of the Men’s and Women’s rowing teams of St. Edwards Oxford, a boarding school in England, came to visit my high school in Philadelphia. Though my experience was not nearly as steeped in history and tradition as is the Achilles Club and the Transatlantic Series, I can enthusiastically agree with Mr. Wilcox’s assessment of how interesting, informative, and fun it can be to have the freedom to look at life in a different way. Even though I never went to visit St. Edward’s in England, I learned so much by just talking with the rowers about everyday, taken-for-granted differences. The students from St. Edward’s, for example, found yellow school buses to be exciting and fascinating because they had never ridden in one but had seen them in the movies. My teammates and I, however, had drastically different interpretations of the desirability of riding the bus to Boathouse Row. This example of the school buses is just one of the multitudes of differences between the United States and the United Kingdom that we discussed. In fact, most of our conversations centered around this topic. As the sentiments of Mr. Wilcox and Dr. Hill captured, it can be really inspiring and refreshing to learn that a vast and yet-to-be-discovered world exists outside of our everyday experiences.

As in the Transatlantic Series, there was some friendly competition between our two schools. After practicing together for about a week, boats from my high school and boats from St. Edward’s raced each other in the Head of the Schuylkill. Interestingly, rowers from both my high school and St. Edward’s  even joined as a crew to compete together in some races. Combing this experience of cultural sharing with the experience of coming together as teammates or competitors to celebrate a common dedication to a sport is really powerful. It is difficult to describe, but I believe that perhaps this power stems from the fact that after finding out just how different our lives, perspectives, and traditions may be, we find out how fundamentally similar we all are. We share a desire to continually improve, a desire to endure for the sake of our teammates, and a desire to win. After learning about the rich history of the Achilles Club and Transatlantic Series, I can certainly see why someone would want to re-experience this tradition eighty years later.