#FindYourTribe: Passions on Display
Many stars shine passionately from the skies of the Bocconi universe: some are people who have been skiing since age three, others are crazy for Bruce Springsteen. Then there are those who never put down their camera, and the ones whose shelves are filled with Marvel comics. It is almost impossible to discover them all, but a good starting point might be the photo exhibition that opens on 4 September at 10am in the Velodromo building, Piazza Sraffa 13. The goal is to present the interests of the Bocconi community; the protagonists in each of the thirty-six pictures - students, alumni, professors and staff members - are linked by a common enthusiasm. The exhibition will continue evolving, since anyone can take a picture communicating his or her greatest passion and the photo will immediately become an integral part of the exhibition. Also, on the Facebook event page, a special frame is available so that anyone can take a selfie and share it on the social networks using the #FindYourTribe hashtag. The exhibition will end on September 14 and all the members of the Bocconi community are invited at 6:30pm to an aperitif that will allow the various members of each "tribe" to get to know each other, to exchange experiences and, perhaps, mark the beginning of a friendship based on sharing what they love.
The message behind the initiative is about community spirit and the beauty of sharing people's interests, new or old - passions with the power to erase any difference. It has happened to all the people in the pictures, such as Rector Gianmario Verona and student Giuseppe Allegra, who have in common a huge love for Marvel comics, and in particular for the character of Spider-Man. As soon as they met, they started to compare and exchange the comics they brought with them for the shooting. Olga Annushkina, professor, and Beatrice Giacalone, student, already knew each other before the photoshooting: "We met in the gym where we practice Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but then I remembered that I had already met Beatrice", says the professor. "We first met at a student reception and I remembered her eyes: she looked at me straight on, while still being polite, without the classic shyness other students usually show when meeting a faculty member for the first time".
There are many other passions to discover and curious anecdotes to read, and you can find them all by visiting the exhibition. The initiative is headed for success in its dual goal of welcoming the new students and creating tribes of interests that extend to every member of the Bocconi community: students, alumni, faculty and staff.