Some of the most prevalent groups here on campus at Cornell are its athletic teams. They are easily identifiable by the famed red Teagle shorts and over-sized grey tee, or even better yet by the full Teagle sweatsuit. You may spot them frequenting Trillium, loading up tray-fulls of omelettes, homefries and the like after an early morning workout. You may even wonder why they seem to always hang out together. This is because being a student-athlete at such a prestigious university like Cornell requires a great deal of commitment and dedication.
Making the adjustment to college life my freshman year was greatly alleviated by the close-knit structure of a sports team. According to Haythornwaite, social networks are united by common ground, strong and weak ties, and reciprocity. In addition, relationships are “examined for the way they build network-level characteristics such as co-orientation to common goals and purposes and trust in the ability of the network to regulate behavior.(125)”
The common ground forming the basis of the social network which is the women’s ice hockey team is strong in that we are all focused on the same goals. This element is necessary for the success of any sports team; if all members are not on the same page the team will not grow. Common ground also includes shared values. In this social network, shared value means dedication to both academics and athletics. When the weekend comes and we are forced to pass up other social opportunities, we know that it is a shared feeling and we aren’t alone. Reciprocity in a social network is the give and take required of any relationship. In a team community, this means making sacrifices for teammates. Whether it’s giving rides to freshmen so they don’t have to walk all the way back to North Campus in the snow or helping a teammate with a paper in a class you took the previous semester, reciprocity is necessary for the team to survive. The character that is shown outside of contest is also displayed in games. Finally, strong ties are described by Haythornwaite as utilizing frequent contact. These relationships tend to be dense, similar and they have access to the same resources and information. I always refer to my team as my Cornell family because I spend more time with them than any other people on campus.
The common ground forming the basis of the social network which is the women’s ice hockey team is strong in that we are all focused on the same goals. This element is necessary for the success of any sports team; if all members are not on the same page the team will not grow. Common ground also includes shared values. In this social network, shared value means dedication to both academics and athletics. When the weekend comes and we are forced to pass up other social opportunities, we know that it is a shared feeling and we aren’t alone. Reciprocity in a social network is the give and take required of any relationship. In a team community, this means making sacrifices for teammates. Whether it’s giving rides to freshmen so they don’t have to walk all the way back to North Campus in the snow or helping a teammate with a paper in a class you took the previous semester, reciprocity is necessary for the team to survive. The character that is shown outside of contest is also displayed in games. Finally, strong ties are described by Haythornwaite as utilizing frequent contact. These relationships tend to be dense, similar and they have access to the same resources and information. I always refer to my team as my Cornell family because I spend more time with them than any other people on campus.
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