Armariano

Hello! A. Mariano is currently a student at the University of San Francisco.
She currently lives in Canada California, but has also lived in Germany and Belgium.
She thinks The Hives, Ok Go, Muse, Flight of the Conchords, and Neil Patrick Harris are pretty damn cool.

Greek Life

Ranging in nature from social to professional, a number of Greek organizations have established a presence on campus. Although their numbers have fluctuated over the years, there are currently seven Greek organizations that receive official recognition by USF’s Greek Council.

Chi Upsilon Zeta
The Alpha chapter of Chi Upsilon Zeta was chartered at USF on October 10th, 2002. It is a fraternity with a multicultural focus and defines its purpose as the following:

"The purpose of Chi Upsilon Zeta is to promote activity, awareness, and justice by creating an environment rich in social and cultural experiences. It strives to educate, enliven, and encourage others to delve deep into the roots from where they come."

Delta Sigma Theta
The Tau Tau chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was chartered at USF on March 19th 2005. This sorority is comprised of predominantly Black, college-educated women, and was founded as part of the American Council of Civil Rights, a co-operative civil rights project of five sororities and fraternities in 1913.
Their statement of purpose reads as follows:

"Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world."

Delta Zeta
The Xi Lambda chapter of Delta Zeta was chartered at USF on April 23rd, 1983. Delta Zeta is a sorority with a social emphasis whose purpose statement is:

"The purpose of this sorority shall be to unite its members in the bonds of sincere and lasting friendship, to stimulate one another in the pursuit of knowledge, to promote the moral and social culture of its members, and to develop plans for guidance and unity in action; objects worthy of the highest aim and purpose of associated effort."

Tri-Gamma
Tri Gamma is a sorority exclusive to nursing majors in the USF school of Nursing. It is unique to USF, and was founded in 1946. Tri-Gamma’s purpose statement is as follows:

"The purpose of Tri Gamma is to establish friendship among its members, to develop a strong character, to broaden the moral, intellectual, and spiritual life of its members in every way possible. This organization allows the development of leadership and encourages members to assure the highest responsibilities as students."

Lambda Theta Nu
Lambda Theta Nu is a national sorority for Latinas. The chapter at USF was chartered June 21st, 2007. The Lambda Theta Nu purpose statement is as follows:

"Our mission is to promote and foster Latina leaders through educational and professional development, relationship building, and community involvement. Our intent is to provide our members exposure to resources for continued growth."

Lambda Theta Phi
The Gamma Zeta chapter of Lambda Theta Phi was chartered at USF on November 4th, 2001. Lambda Theta Phi was the first Latino fraternity established in the U.S. This fraternity’s mission statement is:

“To cultivate a spirit of brotherhood, to value an education, to promote unity among all Latinos, to be proud of and cherish our heritage, to assert roles of leadership, to develop character, to practice chivalry, and to serve mankind. In short, to raise the social and cultural conscience of the Latin male college student.”

Omicron Theta Chi
The Omicron Theta Chi sorority was founded at USF on August 25th, 1963. Its statement of purpose states the following:

"Omicron Theta Chi is a pre-professional honor sorority established to stimulate higher academic achievement, provide service to the community, further friendship and cooperation among those female students interested in the careers in the health sciences, and to instill loyalty and support in the University of San Francisco."

Other Greek Organizations
The following Greek fraternities are national organizations, however they are not officially recognized by USF’s Greek Council.
Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Phi Omega was founded as a national service organization for men with the aim of promoting service and humanity. The Alpha Epsilon Nu chapter of Alpha Phi Omega was chartered at USF in the spring of 2001. Membership of this non-profit fraternity has since then been extended to women as well as men. Their motto is:

"Be a Leader, Be a Friend, Be of Service."

Delta Sigma Pi
Delta Sigma Pi is a co-ed Fraternity for Business majors. The Delta Omicron chapter was chartered at USF on September 16th, 1950."DSP". Retrieved 7 December 2008. Their purpose statement is as follows:

"Delta Sigma Pi is a professional fraternity organized to foster the study of business in universities; to encourage scholarship, social activity and the association of students for their mutual advancement by research and practice; to promote closer affiliation between the commercial world and students of commerce, and to further a higher standard of commercial ethics and culture and the civic and commercial welfare of the community."

Student Involvement
Of undergraduate students, 1% of men belong to 3 total fraternities, 2 of which are local and 1 national. 2% of women belong to 6 total sororities, 4 of which are local and 2 national.

GLIDE Wiki Modification Test

Glide Memorial Church is a church in San Francisco, California affiliated with the United Methodist Church that opened in 1929. Although conservative until the 1960s, since then it has served as a counter-culture rallying point and has been one of the most prominently liberal churches in the United States. Glide is also famous for its Gospel Choir and numerous social service programs. Its contributions to the community have been recognized by such respected figures as Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Clinton; as well as Warren Buffett, who famously contributed the value of an auctioned lunch on eBay.

History

In 1929, Methodist philanthropist Lizzie Glide purchased a parcel of land at the intersection of Ellis and Taylor Streets in San Francisco and founded the Glide Foundation as a memorial to her millionaire cattleman husband, H.L. Glide of Sacramento. Construction of GLIDE Memorial United Methodist Church was completed two years later.

Leadership

In the 1963, Rev. Cecil Williams became Pastor at Glide Memorial. Prior to him, Rev. John Moore, whose sermons on Homosexuality appeared on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, had been Pastor. In 1964, Glide helped form the Council on Religion and the Homosexual in an effort to close the gap between people of faith and the homosexual community.

Cecil Williams remained sole pastor until 1999, when Rev. Douglass Fitch was named co-Pastor. In 2000, Rev. Fitch was appointed Pastor upon Williams’ retirement and transition in to the role of Glide Foundation’s CEO. Fitch remained Glide’s primary pastor until his 2007 retirement, at which time Williams was succeeded as CEO by Willa Seldon. Glide currently as two co-Pastors: the Rev. Donald Guest, who was appointed in 2007, and Re. Karen Oliveto, who joined Glide in 2008. In early 2010, Glide announced the resignation of CEO Willa Seldon, who agreed to continue the position until a replacement is found.

In September 2010, Rita Shimmin and Kristen Growney Yamamoto were appointed Co-Executive Directors of Glide, replacing founding Executive Director Janice Miritikani. Miritikani, Williams’ wife, continues her role as Founding President.

Programs

Since the 1960s, Glide Church has provided various services for the poor and disenfranchised. Glide currently runs 87 various social service programs. Through their Daily Free Meals program, Glide serves three meals daily, amounting to over 750,000 free meals a year.

In 2007, Glide provided 750,000 meals per year through their community clinic, which serves more than 3,000 homeless people. They provided over 100,000 hours of licensed childcare and quality after-school programming to over 325 clients in 2007. They provided emergency supplies to 2,190 individuals in 2006. And they booked 5,707 shelter beds and helped 120 homeless persons move into permanent housing in 2007. According to their website, Glide’s daily Free Meals program served 934,000 meals in 2009.

The church also provides HIV testing, mental and primary health care, women's programs, crisis intervention, an after-school program, creative arts and mentoring for youth, literacy classes, computer training, job skills training, drug and alcohol recovery programs, free legal services for the homeless, housing with case management, and much more. In 2009, The Glide Foundation was rated a Top Non-Profit Organization by Philanthropedia.org

Music

Glide Ensemble

Glide is widely known for the Glide Ensemble, their Gospel Choir that currently maintains about 100 members. The Glide Ensemble choir held its first rehearsals in 1969 and has been an integral part of Sunday Celebrations ever since. In May 2007, the ensemble was featured on the American late night show ‘’Late Night with Conan O'Brien’’. Directed by John F. Turk Jr. and Ron Sutherland and backed by a full band called the Change Band, the choir groups perform every Sunday at Glide’s 9am and 11am Sunday Celebrations Every Sunday’s celebration is available on CD and DVD from the church’s website and at the church itself. Revenue from this source helps the church fund its many charitable programs. The ensemble holds open auditions for the Ensemble every Wednesday at 6:30pm in Room 206 of the church, with rehearsals beginning at 7pm. In 2005, SF Weekly named the Glide Ensemble and Change Band “Best Gospel” in their annual “Best Of San Francisco” awards.

Discography

The Glide Ensemble and Change Band have released 9 albums since 1991, which are sold on the first level of the church. All proceeds help fund Glide Foundation’s various social service programs.

• John Turk's 30th Anniversary Concert (2010)
• The Real Sounds of the GLIDE Ensemble: Special Edition Anthology [4 CDs]
• Wings of Song: A Spiritual Flight (2009)
• Holidays with Real Soul (2007)
• A Salute to Ron Sutherland (2004)
• The Sounds of Hope (2001)
• Love to Give (1997)
• Coming Home to the Spirit (1994)
• Touch the Spirit (1991)

Podcasts of every Sunday celebration are available on Glide’s website.

Youth and Children’s Choirs

GLIDE Ensemble Member Errin Mixon leads a choir of teens and young adults that rehearses once a week and performs at services once a month. GLIDE also runs a choir for Elementary school children, directed by Classy Martin. The Children’s Choir sings during Sunday Celebrations several times a year.

Controversy

Largely through the actions of its long-time Pastor Cecil Williams, Glide has become known for its often-controversial views on issues such as same sex marriage. Since Williams became Pastor in 1963, Glide has been called the best-known pulpit in Northern California. Some of Williams’ controversial actions have included:

• Performing Same-Sex Marriages very early on, even though the United Methodist Church was far from sanctioning them. The United Methodist Church, the Protestant denomination of Christianity with which Glide is affiliated, currently does not allow its Ministers to perform Same-Sex Marriages.

• Removing the Cross inside the Sanctuary at Glide.

• Helping form the Council on Religion and Homosexuality in 1964
• Accepting City subsidies for Glide’s charitable work. Seen by some critics as a violation of the separation of Church and State, Glide first started getting city subsidies for its meals program in 1981. The individual contributions that flow into Glide on Sundays account for a relatively small portion of the budget -- less than $640,000 of the foundation's $8.5 million in revenue during 2002, the most recent year for which a financial audit was available.

Glide also obtains funding from other various fundraising activities such as their Annual Holiday Festival.

Pop Culture References

The 2006 movie The Pursuit of Happyness starring Will Smith and his son Jaden, depicted the real life rags-to-riches story of Chris Gardner and his son. Once homeless, they turned to Glide's services for support to help them get back on their feet. Cecil Williams and his wife Janice Mirikitani, the leaders of the church's services for over 40 years, can be seen briefly in the movie as can a number of homeless people employed as extras.

Armariano (talk) 11:58, 9 December 2008 (UTC)