In a world where violence often dictates actions and pragmatism too often denies compassion, it is comforting to know that David Baharvar, a senior in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR), is preparing for a career to combat such ills.
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| David Baharvar '01 poses on the Arts Quad, next to the statue of university founder Ezra Cornell. Charles Harrington/University Photography |
Baharvar, who was born and raised in New York City, would like to parlay his active participation and interest in resolving conflicts in international affairs, labor disputes and social issues into a career with conflict-resolution non-governmental organizations (so-called NGOs) that operate at the grassroots community level.
"I hope to have a career working around the world over the next 20 years, so I don't want to settle down anytime soon," said Baharvar.
Through his involvement with the Cornell Presidential Research Scholars Program, Baharvar has been able to conduct multifarious research in four different colleges while at Cornell.
Most recently, under the supervision of ILR Associate Dean Ronald Seeber, associate professor and associate director of ILR's Institute on Conflict Resolution, Baharvar used conflict resolution theory in his senior honors thesis to assess the role that local and regional peace committees played in South Africa from 1991 to 1994, during the country's transition from apartheid to power sharing. He looked at the effectiveness of the committees at the local level because "that's where peace treaties and agreements are ultimately implemented and tested [to determine] whether they're useful or not."
Noted Baharvar, "Research has allowed me to explore things that I never would have through my classes alone. It has helped me figure out what I'm most deeply interested in, in terms of intellectual and career goals."
Issues such as poverty and homelessness also have become a concern for the student. He currently is co-chair of the Cornell Coalition for the Homeless, a cause he has been active with for two years, volunteering at food pantries and organizing meetings. On April 21, Baharvar could be found sleeping on Ho Plaza for the coalition's "Sleepout Against Homelessness," a daylong event that entailed service projects in Ithaca, speeches, a candlelight vigil and panhandling in Collegetown to highlight the condition of the homeless.
Baharvar, who keeps himself mentally and physically fit with meditation, yoga and basketball, and creatively engaged with mural painting, will go to law school and then plans to obtain a master's degree in peace and development or a similar field before starting his career.
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