This past Wednesday I attended the talk by Paul Willcox on the Transatlantic Series entitled “Freedom to Look at Life in a Different Way.” The Series is an international track and field event in which the Ivies, along with Oxford and Cambridge, take turns hosting track and field athletic competitions. This event involves the creation of joint teams, Cornell and Penn, Yale and Harvard, and Oxford and Cambridge.

In his talk, he explained the history of the Series starting in 1874. I found the history to be very interesting, but was more excited by the component of cultural exchange and community which exists within the event. The Transatlantic Series serves as an avenue for these athletes to be hosted by different universities both within their own countries as well as in another. The cultural differences experienced here are beneficial in that they simultaneously broaden the mind and expose these individuals to new communities. I find the travel is incredibly valuable in this aspect, but is even more enlightening when it involves the kind of immersive experience offered by the Series.

Additionally, I was interested in the way the Series promotes camaraderie between universities with stark rivalries. In they formation of joint teams, these universities learn to value the other’s particular culture and community. In this one, the athletes can expand their sense of community to include those outside of their own university.

Overall, I found Paul Willcox’s talk quite interesting. As someone who is not involved with sports, his talk provided me with a deeper understanding of the community formed within an athletic team. I came away wishing I was a part of the Series myself!