Peering through his shiny glasses, the twenty-two year old Israeli native appears too tranquil to have seen the horrors of war.
Eran BenDavid '97 served three years in the Israeli army directly before coming to Dartmouth, and said the atmosphere of the College is very different from that of Israel.
Almost everyday something violent happens in Israel, BenDavid said, terming the situation a "continuous war."
That "weird dimension to life [is] not present here," he said.
BenDavid compares his time in Israel to his life at the College.
This chemistry and philosophy double-major describes Dartmouth as an "utopian microcosm."
"I love it," BenDavid said of Dartmouth. "There is rarely a day when I do not say this has been a great day I've had."
Though college life may seem relatively peaceful to BenDavid, he has managed to find numerous activities to occupy his time.Enterprising activities
During his freshman fall, BenDavid began volunteering at the Good Neighbor Health Clinic, which provides primary health care for Upper Valley residents without health insurance. He decided to help raise money for the clinic by initiating a bingo operation in White River Junction.
Located next to the Astro Bowl, Astro Bingo provides people with a space for socializing and the opportunity to earn money every Friday night, BenDavid said.
From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. people mingle and buy lottery tickets, BenDavid said. The bingo games begin at 7 p.m. and people usually earn $25 to $50 per game.
BenDavid said he and the other student volunteers at the bingo operation hope to acquirea non-profit organization status for their venture, which has the potential of obtaining a $1,000 to $2,000 profit each week.
Their company is called Community Fundraisers and is currently under the jurisdiction of the Good Neighbor Health Clinic, which provided the initial capital for their operation, he said.
A member of the lightweight crew team his freshman year, BenDavid said he has a keen interest in "sports in general."
Basketball, biking, hang-gliding, jumping off of Ledyard bridge, skiing, squash, soccer and tennis are some of the various athletic activities BenDavid said he enjoys.
Will Taylor '97, BenDavid's friend since freshman fall, described him as "very disciplined."
"I don't know anyone who does as many things as he does and is able to do them at a consistently high level," Taylor said.
BenDavid spent his freshman summer conducting a social science research study in Israel on American orthodox Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank and their influence in the peace process.
BenDavid worked for the College News Service during his freshman year and as a teaching assistant in the chemistry department this year.
He said plans to be a chemistry T.A. again next year and to be an undergraduate advisor in Topliff hall.Academics and future plans
A premed student, BenDavid said chemistry classes are easier for him to grasp, but he enjoys his philosophy classes very much.
"I enjoy critical thinking and trying to play around with ideas," he said.
A Rufus Choates Scholar his freshman year, BenDavid will complete his undergraduate degree in three years and graduate in the spring.
BenDavid said he initially decided to become a doctor after observing hisfather's interactions with patients and as he learned more about the profession, he realized it was the right career for him.
"I want to be a clinician," he said, adding that he enjoys working with people.
BenDavid said he is applying to medical schools now, but will take a year off to travel before actually starting his graduate studies.
"I'm going to try and go around the world," BenDavid said.
His plan is to work for a few months in one area to raise money for a flight and then work in another place to raise money for the next flight.
He said he wants to visit Venezuela and Morocco, where his mother and father, respectively, grew up.
Personal life
BenDavid said he spent the first 16 years of his life in Israel and then attended high school for two years in the U.S. before joining the army in Israel.
He said he decided to come to Dartmouth because it was the only college that agreed to defer his admission until after he had served his term in the army, but said he does not regret his choice.
But BenDavid does not see the College as perfect.
As a member of Dartmouth United, BenDavid said he feels "Dartmouth's social scene can definitely be improved."
Sophomores Jay Lavender and Phil Lordcreated Dartmouth United last fall to provide substance-free social alternatives and student programming.
