Campus Life, Because There Is More to Life Than Studying

There is a life that begins at Bocconi after the last class of the day. It is a second life, or rather it is Campus Life, spawning across the same hallways to inhabit parallel spaces, hidden behind doors that are apparently the same as regular classroom doors. You recognize them because, if you are silent, you can hear music coming from the room, cheerful voices and clapping of hands... It is not the revelation of a secret, underground Bocconi, but the confirmation that, in addition to the standard academic offer, there is a very rich catalog of extracurricular activities at the University involving more than 7,000 students each year. It is nothing improvised or extemporaneous, but a real workshop of initiatives coordinated and managed by the university through a specific division, Campus Life (www.unibocconi.it/it/studenti-iscrive/campus- life) which is the reference interlocutor for cultural and artistic activities, volunteering and social engagement, as well counseling and wellbeing initiatives organized directly by the university or student associations present in the university.

"Our task, in short, is to organize this part of the university's offer," summarizes the head of Campus Life, Stefania Testa, "but also to inspire and stimulate students to propose and organize initiatives in this direction, creating a favorable environment so that even newcomers feel welcome and engaged. These are not easy times for young people and we believe it is important to preserve spaces for real-life relationships that encourage the growth of the community through in-person meetings between students."

Therefore, keep an eye on the Bocconi daily planner, the website and communications the University sends via email, because there are many opportunities to take advantage of. Starting with the Arts and Humanities interdisciplinary courses, dedicated to forms of knowledge and culture that fall outside the traditional perimeter of Bocconi degrees, thus including lessons and events that range from physics to literature, from cultural mediation to geopolitics. But if theory is not enough for you, there is also plenty of practice. “After many hours spent in the classroom, we believe that our students have interest and pleasure in moving around and getting their hands on artistic subjects in the literal sense of the term,” explains Alex Turrini, Professor at the Bocconi Department of Social and Political Sciences and Director of the MSc in Economics and Management in Arts, Culture, Media and Entertainment. And so off we go with courses in singing, dancing, theater, videomaking, and – starting this year – also painting and sculpture. As well as guided visits to exhibitions, museums and shows, tours of the region, dedicated evenings and events jointly organized with cultural bodies and institutions. “In short, on the Bocconi campus, there are also many opportunities to express one's emotions and even to have fun. It's not forbidden!” quips Turrini. “These extracurricular courses, which therefore do not give academic credits, nevertheless have an educational value because they help to develop transversal skills, to open up to complementary interests, to grow personally in one’s relationships with others. The dance course, for example, managed by Marco Pelle, choreographer and performance teacher, is an opportunity to test yourself, overcome shyness, gain confidence in managing your body and your abilities. Because of these aspects, it can be said that they are therefore not completely disconnected from one’s course of study."

Personal fragilities and the relationship with one's own body are at the center of another treasure chest of possibilities offered by Bocconi Campus Life, providing opportunities to delve deeper into aspects of self-empowerment and wellbeing in addition to the existing counseling service. “They range from workshops on so-called soft skills, which therefore help to improve public speaking, business writing, decision-making or problem-solving skills, to personal support courses for managing anxiety or time while studying,” says Stefania Testa. “But we go even further, suggesting spaces and ways to take care of oneself through meetings dedicated to healthy lifestyles, affectivity, nutritional or sleep health, and addictions in general.” It seems hard to believe, but in the multifunctional space where many of Campus Life's activities are concentrated, there are also tatami mats and cushions to indulge in yoga, meditation and mindfulness sessions.

Then there is another area of ​​activity, which responds to the third mission of the university, that of social commitment. It deals with offering students the opportunity to donate their time and energy in the form of volunteering to non-profit entities and organizations. These can be one-off activities or ongoing collaborations on certain projects, such as Pane Quotidiano, the social canteen which is right next to the new SDA Bocconi campus. Every week the Volunteering Desk connects incoming requests with the availability expressed by students, taking into account interests and sensitivities and proposing missions in the Milan metro area but also within the campus itself, for example with tutoring functions for classmates with special needs and who they may find difficulties in some aspects of academic life. “Furthermore, starting this year, anyone who completes at least 50 hours of volunteering will be able to obtain an open badge,” concludes Testa, “i.e. an electronic certificate of the activities carried out. It will place these students on a list of merit for social impact achieved, which will also be visible in their academic CV by companies and external bodies."

Curricular and extracurricular, in short, are always a bit intertwined in Campus Life activities. This is true even in the apparently more playful options whose activity peaks with the Performing Arts Night in May. The event is held on the "night before exams" where the end of academic courses is celebrated, giving free rein to artistic performance and talent. “The best aspect of the initiative is the fact that it is not a talent show, there is no competition whatsoever,” specifies Turrini. "It's a party to be celebrated together, during which you can show your classmates how much you've learned while also allowing yourself the luxury of making mistakes and forgetting for a moment the obligation to be performative and always focused on objectives."

translated by Alex Foti