Prof discusses poverty, Penn

Could American research universities prove to be a vital force in fighting hunger and homelessness? According to Ira Harkavy, who helped to found the West Philadelphia Improvement Corps and who promotes service-learning classes that link Penn courses with West Philadelphia schools, they can -- if they get their students and faculty members more involved in community service. Harkavy, an Urban Studies professor and the director of Penn's Center for Community Partnerships, spoke Monday on poverty issues to an audience of about 40 in Houston Hall. "There is no issue as pressing to the American world as the issue of poverty," Harkavy said at the beginning of his speech. A large proportion of children in Philadelphia live in poverty, he noted. Harkavy stressed that American research universities should focus on developing initiatives to solve this pressing problem. To do this, American universities need to work together with their communities. "The purpose of universities is to improve the levels of society," Harkavy explained. "The University of Pennsylvania was founded on the premises of education and service in general and on moral development and intellectual development." Since the University is situated in West Philadelphia, Harkavy noted that it is the school's duty to help in solving the problems of poverty in the area. "Urban universities were not founded to be separate from society," he said. And Harkavy maintained that by focusing its energies on a real problem facing America, the University would make its name as the nation's preeminent research institution. "If you want Penn to be the greatest university, get Penn to help solve the question of poverty along with West Philadelphia," he said. But some University students and faculty are already involved in working toward the solutions to poverty, he noted, adding that over 50 faculty members currently link Penn academic programs to the community. Harkavy stressed that the pursuits of service and intellect be combined. "Keep doing service, but increasingly engage your mind and your work together," he suggested. Students who attended the speech praised Harkavy for his continued involvement in promoting community service at Penn. "Harkavy helped to plant the seeds of student-community involvement," College junior Sarah Weinstock said. University City Hospitality Committee Hillel, which sponsored the speech, hosts a soup kitchen for local homeless people each week. "Our goal is to do more than to give people food," College and Wharton senior Arash Farin, who serves on the UCHC board, said. "These are homeless people and we can't really give them homes, but we do what we can."