History

  • Local History

     

  •      Sigma Phi Epsilon was most recently chartered at the University of Maine in 2002. Maine Alpha was first chartered at the University of Maine in 1948. In 1994 Maine Alpha was removed from the University of Maine's Greek Life System and lost National Recognition. After six years of inactivity, plans to bring Sigma Phi Epsilon back to UMaine were formed.

         It all started in February of 2000 with four men who were selected by National Representatives to bring back Sigma Phi Epsilon to the University of Maine. Those four men, Oscar Sparrow, Theodore Pietz, Alex Arroyo, and Joshua Higgins, set out to start something different. They didn't want to just, "start up a frat," they wanted to start a dream. Now, Sigma Phi Epsilon at the University of Maine has made that dream a reality.

          During the 2001 fall semester, SigEp at UMaine had grown to almost 40 men, and had got back their chapter house on College Ave. The thought of regaining their charter developed into something that could be accomplished in the near future. From there, a chartering committee was formed, headed by Oscar Sparrow and Gustavo Burkett. Their goal was to prepare a charter petition, and organize the events that would take place on chartering weekend. After many months of hard work, Sparrow put the finishing touches on the petition, and sent it to Nationals to await their decision.

          About month after Sparrow had sent the petition to National Sigma Phi Epsilon Headquarters, Maine Alpha received confirmation that they would be receiving their charter, and to go ahead with the plans for the chartering weekend. The weekend required a lot of planning, and so the chartering committee went back to work to organize one of the most memorable weekends the men of Maine Alpha would ever have.

          After about three weeks of hard work and planning, the weekend of Friday, May 3rd had finally arrived, and the celebration of a lifetime was about to begin. They started off the weekend with a dinner at the Chapter House with a few of the National Representatives from Virginia. John Schuyler, and Maine Alpha Alumnus Shawn McKenna attended the dinner prepared by the house cook. At the dinner, the past year's events were discussed, along with old stories of living in the house. The rooms were filled with excitement and anticipation of the following day's events. On Saturday, May 4, the day began bright and early with a Brotherhood retreat at the Ramada Inn in Bangor. The retreat started with a breakfast, and progressed into a presentation lead by Brother Shawn McKenna. McKenna discussed, "Today [the retreat] is to get us to celebrate!" He began by delivering a motivational/congratulatory speech. He stressed to the his Brothers at Maine Alpha that, "I owe you," and that, "you all have filled a hole in my soul." Brother McKenna also said that the Brothers of Maine Alpha, "Parallel the original 12 Founding Fathers," and that SigEp at UMaine could possible be one of the best Fraternity Chapter's in America."

         In May 2002, the Official Charter, Chapter Seal, and Chapter Flag were presented to the Brothers of Maine Alpha. The President's Badge was given to Matthew Rodrigue, and finally, the current officers of Maine Alpha were installed as the first officers of the new Maine Alpha. The officers included Matthew Rodrigue as President, Eli Young as VP of Programming, Michael Benson as VP of Finance, Gregory Sinnett as VP of Recruitment, Joshua Bridges as VP of Member Development, Peter Nick Pike as Chaplain, and Andrew Barter as VP of Communications. After the installation final remarks were given, and all of the Brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon present at the Banquet joined hands to sing the SigEp Anthem. Finally, the night was topped off with a few hours of dancing and rejoicing as the Brothers of Maine Alpha celebrated their charter that they had worked so hard for, and rightly deserved.

     

     

  • National History

  •  

    Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded on November 1, 1901

    The 12 founders first met in October, 1901. They discussed the organization of a fraternity they would call "Sigma Phi." The exact date of this meeting is not known. On November 1, 1901, in the first printed roster of the Fraternity. Jenkens is listed as the first member. The full roster included Carter Ashton Jenkens, Benjamin Donald Gaw, William Hugh Carter, William Andrew Wallace, Thomas Temple Wright, William Lazell Phillips, Lucian Baum Cox, Richard Spurgeon Owens, Edgar Lee Allen,  Robert Alfred McFarland, Frank Webb Kerfoot, and Thomas Vaden McCaul.

    Since 1901 Sigma Phi Epsilon has grown to 262,000 lifetime members and 13,500 undergraduates at 260 campuses and is the nation's largest in terms of undergraduate enrollment.

    Nationally, Sigma Phi Epsilon has been a fraternity of firsts.

        * First national fraternity to establish a housing trust for all chapters and create a National Housing Corporation.
        * First national fraternity to establish a traveling staff to assist chapters in effective operations.
        * First fraternity to charter a chapter in all 50 states.
        * First national fraternity Educational Foundation to build an endowment greater than $11 million.
        * First national fraternity to receive a grant from the federal Department of Education to enhance member development programs.
        * First national fraternity to provide financial assistance to brothers for graduate school through the Resident Scholar program.
        * First national fraternity to partner with the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy.