Phi Eta Kappa
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.
History
Phi Eta Kappa was founded as a for-profit organization owned by its members who bought stock in the fraternity. Sale of shares ceased circa 1942, and by 2001 the organization no longer knew who its shareholders 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 taxes as a commercial business.
The fraternity reported on its website that it would again cease operations in ; a group of alumni began organizing a revival just prior to the COVID pandemic of 2020. Meanwhile, the building remains occupied. In 2014 it was leased to Chi Omega sorority. Later, a new chapter of Sigma Pi fraternity formed on the campus. Phi Eta Kappa has since returned to their house and remains active on campus.