Phi Eta Kappa
Encyclopedia
Phi Eta Kappa is a fraternity
at the University of Maine
. Founded in 1906, Phi Eta Kappa has remained unaffiliated with any national organizations, choosing instead to preserve their local tradition. Since 1910 the Green Wave, as it is known, have been located in a fraternity house on College Avenue in Orono, Maine
. There are currently over 1,000 living alumni of Phi Eta Kappa.
in the fraternity. Sale of shares ceased circa 1942, and by 2001 the organization no longer knew who its shareholder
s were. Since the 1940s, funds for operations have come from rent charged to members, a mortgage
on the fraternity house, and alumni donations. In the 1980s, the fraternity encountered financial difficulties that were attributed to members who had not paid their bills.
The fraternity house was closed temporarily in 1988 due to its deteriorating physical condition and concerns about poor behavior by its members. Later that year it was rented to house the Pi Beta Phi
sorority. Subsequently, however, it was reopened for Phi Eta Kappa.
In 2001 the fraternity asked the Maine State Legislature to enact legislation to convert the fraternity to nonprofit status so it would no longer be required to pay the same tax
es as a commercial business.
, the late Univ. of Maine president Winthrop Libby, successful businessmen and philanthropists Larry and Keith Mahaney, businessman Eldon Morrison, Maine Superior Court Justice E. Allen Hunter, Air Force test pilot Robert A. Rushworth
, UMaine head football coach Jack Cosgrove, Clemson University
head baseball coach Jack Leggett
, and Dartmouth College
head baseball coach Bob Whalen.
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
at the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
. Founded in 1906, Phi Eta Kappa has remained unaffiliated with any national organizations, choosing instead to preserve their local tradition. Since 1910 the Green Wave, as it is known, have been located in a fraternity house on College Avenue in Orono, Maine
Orono, Maine
Orono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1774 and named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation. It is home to The University of Maine. The population was 10,362 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
. There are currently over 1,000 living alumni of Phi Eta Kappa.
History
Phi Eta Kappa was founded as a for-profit organization owned by its members who bought stockStock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
in the fraternity. Sale of shares ceased circa 1942, and by 2001 the organization no longer knew who its shareholder
Shareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
s were. Since the 1940s, funds for operations have come from rent charged to members, a mortgage
Mortgage loan
A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
on the fraternity house, and alumni donations. In the 1980s, the fraternity encountered financial difficulties that were attributed to members who had not paid their bills.
The fraternity house was closed temporarily in 1988 due to its deteriorating physical condition and concerns about poor behavior by its members. Later that year it was rented to house the Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi is an international fraternity for women founded as I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Its headquarters are located in Town and Country, Missouri, and there are 134 active chapters and over 330 alumnae organizations across the United States and...
sorority. Subsequently, however, it was reopened for Phi Eta Kappa.
In 2001 the fraternity asked the Maine State Legislature to enact legislation to convert the fraternity to nonprofit status so it would no longer be required to pay the same tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
es as a commercial business.
Athletics
Phi Eta Kappa emphasizes athletics. The fraternity has won the BC Kent Award multiple times. The BC Kent Award is given annually to the fraternity which has the highest combined point total for all intramural events. Phi Eta Kappa won the award nine consecutive years, from 1994-2002. Phi Eta Kappa alumni in professional sports include Mike Buck, who played four seasons as a quarterback in the NFL and holds most passing records at Maine, and Greg Panora, professional powerlifter, who holds the world record for combined bench, squat and deadlift (2481lbs) for the 242 lb. weight class.Notable alumni
Notable Alumni include former Maine governor John H. ReedJohn H. Reed
John Hathaway Reed was the 67th Governor of Maine. He was once an Aroostook County potato farmer. Reed is a Republican, who took office following the death of Governor Clinton Clauson....
, the late Univ. of Maine president Winthrop Libby, successful businessmen and philanthropists Larry and Keith Mahaney, businessman Eldon Morrison, Maine Superior Court Justice E. Allen Hunter, Air Force test pilot Robert A. Rushworth
Robert A. Rushworth
Robert Aitken Rushworth was a United States Air Force test pilot for the North American X-15 program. Born in Madison, Maine on October 9, 1924. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Maine, receiving a BE in 1951. He received a BS in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force...
, UMaine head football coach Jack Cosgrove, Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
head baseball coach Jack Leggett
Jack Leggett
Jack Leggett is the head baseball coach for Clemson University. In 17 seasons, he has led the Tigers to 767 wins . The Tigers have reached the NCAA Tournament in 16 of his 17 seasons as head coach, including the College World Series six times.He was named ACC Coach of the year in 1994, 1995 and 2006...
, and Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
head baseball coach Bob Whalen.