Benjamin Nichols
Encyclopedia
Benjamin "Ben" Nichols was a professor of electrical
and computer engineering
at Cornell University
and mayor of Ithaca, New York
. He was a member of the Democratic Socialists of America
and as such was one of few Socialists elected to public office in the United States in the late 20th century. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Nov07/Nichols.obit.ws.html
in 1920 to a family of politically active Communist Party
members. Nichols's family was active in union organizing and supporting the Republican cause
in the Spanish Civil War
. He enrolled at Cornell in 1937, but his studies were interrupted by his service in the United States Army
during World War II. In 1946, he received his B.S. in electrical engineering, and later received an M.S. in 1949. He earned a PhD at the University of Alaska in 1956. http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--obit-nichols1126nov26,0,212964.story
, but after he grew concerned that his studies would lead to military applications, his pacifist beliefs caused him to change his field of study to science education. In this field he developed new techniques in primary school science education.
In addition to the duties of his professorship, Nichols was very active in the administration of the University. He vocally championed the social justice
vision of the University and was closely allied with the nascent Africana Studies
department. He was one of the first speakers of the Cornell University Senate, a governing body during the 1970s a which included faculty, student, and employee representatives.
With Professor Michael Kelley, he published in 1989 an introductory engineering texbook entitled Introductory Linear Electrical Circuits and Electronics. He retired on July 1, 1988 as Professor Emeritus.
(whose campus is tax-exempt) to increase their voluntary monetary contribution to the city in order to help pay for fire and emergency services which are normally supported only through property taxes. He also led the effort to extend domestic benefits to same-sex couples who worked for the city.
After retiring as mayor in 1995, Nichols remained active in local and Cornell affairs. He worked for the Cornell Institute for African Development and was cited for protesting the construction of a parking lot over an area of Redbud trees
.
Nichols was married to Ethel Baron, who died in 1991. In 1995 he married Judith Van Allen, who survived him. He was also survived by his two children, Mary and Jeff, five grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
and computer engineering
Computer engineering
Computer engineering, also called computer systems engineering, is a discipline that integrates several fields of electrical engineering and computer science required to develop computer systems. Computer engineers usually have training in electronic engineering, software design, and...
at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and mayor of Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
. He was a member of the Democratic Socialists of America
Democratic Socialists of America
Democratic Socialists of America is a social-democratic organization in the United States and the U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International, an international federation of social-democratic,democratic socialist and labor political parties and organizations.DSA was formed in 1982 by a merger of...
and as such was one of few Socialists elected to public office in the United States in the late 20th century. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Nov07/Nichols.obit.ws.html
Early life
Nichols was born on Staten IslandStaten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
in 1920 to a family of politically active Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
members. Nichols's family was active in union organizing and supporting the Republican cause
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. He enrolled at Cornell in 1937, but his studies were interrupted by his service in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II. In 1946, he received his B.S. in electrical engineering, and later received an M.S. in 1949. He earned a PhD at the University of Alaska in 1956. http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--obit-nichols1126nov26,0,212964.story
Professorship
He was admitted to the Cornell faculty as an assistant professor in 1949, but left temporarily to earn his Ph.D. In 1953, he became an associate professor and a full professor in 1959. Initially, his work at Cornell focused on radio waves in the ionosphereIonosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...
, but after he grew concerned that his studies would lead to military applications, his pacifist beliefs caused him to change his field of study to science education. In this field he developed new techniques in primary school science education.
In addition to the duties of his professorship, Nichols was very active in the administration of the University. He vocally championed the social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
vision of the University and was closely allied with the nascent Africana Studies
Africana studies
In United States education, Africana studies, or Africology is the study of the histories, politics and cultures of peoples of African origin both in Africa and in the African diaspora....
department. He was one of the first speakers of the Cornell University Senate, a governing body during the 1970s a which included faculty, student, and employee representatives.
With Professor Michael Kelley, he published in 1989 an introductory engineering texbook entitled Introductory Linear Electrical Circuits and Electronics. He retired on July 1, 1988 as Professor Emeritus.
Mayorality
Nichols was elected to the Ithaca Common Council in 1987, and was the first elected mayor of Ithaca in 1989. He was elected to two more two-year terms, narrowly losing in his bid for a fourth term after helping to push through legislation increasing mayoral terms to four years. As mayor, Nichols was able to convince Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
(whose campus is tax-exempt) to increase their voluntary monetary contribution to the city in order to help pay for fire and emergency services which are normally supported only through property taxes. He also led the effort to extend domestic benefits to same-sex couples who worked for the city.
After retiring as mayor in 1995, Nichols remained active in local and Cornell affairs. He worked for the Cornell Institute for African Development and was cited for protesting the construction of a parking lot over an area of Redbud trees
Redbud Woods controversy
The Redbud Woods controversy was a dispute between protesters and the administration of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York over the demolition of a patch of woodlands known as the "Redbud Woods." The area received this name because of the many Redbud trees that grew there and whose blossoms...
.
Nichols was married to Ethel Baron, who died in 1991. In 1995 he married Judith Van Allen, who survived him. He was also survived by his two children, Mary and Jeff, five grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.