title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Jabberwock, an annual variety show consisting of cultural expression and talent – such as music, skits, and dance – was initiated by Marion Conover-Hope in 1925 in Boston, Massachusetts. Locally produced Jabberwock shows served as fundraisers for many chapters of the sorority. Funds from the programs support scholarships for youths and other public service projects. The program encourages and assists in the development of young individual talents. On December 28, 1947, the Delta Jabberwock was formally adopted and copyrighted by Delta Sigma Theta.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: May Week was created at the second national convention in 1920 at Wilberforce University. Local chapters began to observe it beginning in 1921. The purpose of May Week is to emphasize the importance of higher education in the community, especially for black women. The slogan "Invest in Education" was adopted. A week in May is set aside for programs highlighting academic and professional achievement.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The sorority's first nationwide effort to provide library services in the rural South was the National Library Project, which it authorized in 1937. The program was implemented in 1945, with the goal to establish a traveling library in the South, where library services were not generally available for blacks, both because of segregation and because so many blacks lived in rural areas, which had fewer services. The project arose from concerns that few adequate resources were available, outside of those provided by segregated school systems. In 1939, only 94 out of 774 public libraries in the South served blacks. Additionally, only 5% of rural blacks had access to any public institution at all. The first traveling library was based in Franklin County, North Carolina, where 23 book baskets, with 33 books, were circulated.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The Job Analysis and Opportunity Project began in 1941. It was to provide career, employment counseling, and job exposure for black women. The sorority created the program to address concerns that black women were limited in their choices of occupations, and that they lacked training because of the economy and World War II. Some of the project's goals were to improve working conditions and to improve black women's opportunities to acquire a job.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is the largest African American Women's organization in the world, and has a membership of over 350,000 college-educated women around the world. Delta Sigma Theta has more than 1,000 chapters, located in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, England, Germany, Korea, Japan, Bermuda, Jamaica, Virgin Islands, West Africa, South Africa and Bahamas.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: During the membership intake period initiates are members of the Pyramid Club. The term "soror", which is Latin for "sister", is used among members of the sorority when referring to and addressing each other. Many Delta women have been recognized as leaders in community activism, athletics, business, education and scholarship, entertainment, media and literature, as well as in government. Educators, politicians, lawyers, and professionals in medicine, media, and business count among its members. They excel in these roles at the local, national and international levels.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Many Delta members continue to be active in alumnae chapters after graduating from college, and many join at the alumnae level. Often alumnae and undergraduate chapters will collaborate on large projects to benefit their community.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In 1953, Delta Sigma Theta was the first African-American organization to purchase a national headquarters site located at 1814 M St. NW in Washington, D.C. In 1972 the Sorority moved its headquarters to New Hampshire Ave. NW in Dupont Circle. The sorority headquarters is currently located at property located at 1701, 1703, 1705, 1707, and 1709 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. in the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood. In addition to serving as the national headquarters, the buildings house the Delta Research and Education Foundation (DREF), national staff and records, and equipment systems necessary to conduct Delta Sigma Theta's business.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In 1925, the sorority began to organize its chapters into geographical regions. Initially, it created four regions: Eastern, Midwest, Far West, and Southern. Seven years later, the Central Region was established. In 1960, the Mid-Atlantic region was created. North and South Carolina left the Southern Region to become part of the new South Atlantic Region.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Each of the seven regions is led by a regional director and a collegiate regional representative, who provides a voice for the sorority's college-based members. Regional conferences are held biennially, alternating with the years in which National Conventions are held.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Delta Sigma Theta has provided assistance to address the challenges faced by people in the United States and internationally as well. Over the years, the sorority has established programs to provide and improve education, health care, and international development, and strengthen the African-American family. Delta Sigma Theta provides public service initiatives through the Five-Point Program Thrust.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Delta Sigma Theta uses the Five-Point Programmatic Thrust as an organizing structure as it creates programs to benefit the African-American community. The Five-Point Programmatic Thrust, which was established in 1955.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Each program's development and implementation operates cooperatively, coordinated by committees, the national executive board, and national headquarters staff. Leaders belonging to the Program Planning and Development Committee, Social Action Commission, Commission on Arts and Letters, Information and Communications Committee, Membership Services Committee and Regional Officers also participate in developing programming to meet the Five-Point Programmatic Thrust.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In 2003, the "Delta Challenge: DST Homeownership Initiative" was created to assist sorority members, family, friends, and the general public with owning their homes and investing in homeownership. The program is a resource for individuals seeking information about homeownership; wishing to locate a loan representatives who partners with the Delta Challenge; information about mortgage insurance or other benefits; or who has questions regarding real estate or related financial topics. In three years, the program has helped more than 400 families purchase homes. The DST Homeownership Initiative is a partnership between Delta Sigma Theta's 950 chapters, Chase Bank, and Genworth Financial.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The national directors of the DST Homeownership Initiative are Lori Jones Gibbs and Lynn Richardson. Gibbs is the Genworth Financial's Vice-President of Affordable Housing and Industry Affairs, and Richardson is Chase Bank's Vice President of National Strategic Partnerships.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The Delta Challenge offers mortgage loans, insurance, and other home buyers' discounts through The Delta Chase Initiative. The Delta Chase Initiative resulted in more than 100,000 consumer touch points worldwide and $35 million in closings for Chase, a staggering 389% increase over those closed over the previous three years.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Delta Sigma Theta was the first national African-American organization to collaborate with Habitat for Humanity International in 1992, during National President Bertha Roddey's administration. Habitat for Humanity builds and rehabilitates homes with the help of selected homeowners, volunteer labor, management expertise, and tax-deductible donations of money and materials. Houses are sold to families without profit, and no-interest mortgages are issued over a fixed period. Between 1992–1994, Delta Sigma Theta and Habitat for Humanity built twenty-two homes throughout the United States. In 1996, sorority members and supporters traveled to Ghana, where they built forty Delta Habitat for Humanity homes.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Financial Fortitude was designed to help sorority members and local communities to attain personal wealth and financial security. Financial Fortitude was established as a result of increasing unemployment, Social Security debts, and the widening gap between wealth and poverty. Financial Fortitude helps participants to set and define goals, to develop a financial plan to achieve goals, and to put their plan into action. Workshops are focused on topics such as debt management and reduction, retirement, financing for college, investing, insurance, estate and home ownership, savings, and entrepreneurship.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In 1979, Delta Sigma Theta's Washington D.C. Alumnae Chapter and Delta's Housing Corporation planned and constructed Delta Towers as a multimillion-dollar, ten-story building. Delta Towers opened for occupancy in 1980. Delta Sigma Theta established Delta Towers in the northeast area of Washington, D.C. Delta Towers is an apartment building for elderly and disabled individuals. Delta Towers was the first retirement center founded by any of the African-American sororities or fraternities in the United States. While, many African-American sororities and fraternities subsequently established, or have plans to establish, retirement centers, Delta Sigma Theta, once again, remains a leader in setting the standard for others to follow. Delta Towers currently has 150 independent-living residential apartments. Because of the success of Delta Towers, the chapter and housing corporation are constructing a second apartment building, Delta Towers II, near the first.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The Washington D.C. Alumnae Chapter's Delta Housing Corporation is planning to construct Delta Towers II. Delta Towers II will provide 150 additional safe and affordable apartments for low to moderate income senior citizens. Delta Towers II will be designed to provide a senior citizen wellness center, ground level commercial office and retail services, and a community room. Together, Delta Towers I and Delta Towers II will offer 300 affordable apartments for senior housing (affordable to households earning 60% or less of the area's median income). Construction on Delta Towers II began in March 2009.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The Sorority established the Delta Hurricane Katrina Relief Task Force to facilitate the needs of gulf Coast residents affected by the national disaster. The Hurricane Relief Task Force is responsible for creating strategies to address the numerous difficulties impacting persons displaced by Hurricane Katrina as it relates to housing, health and wellness, emotional and financial needs. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. made a major commitment to three Historically Black Colleges and Universities that were affected by Hurricane Katrina. Collectively $700,000 was awarded to Dillard, Xavier, and Southern Universities over a period of four years and a total of more than $1.2 million was committed to agencies, organizations, members, and other residents of the affected Gulf areas.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Dr. Betty Shabazz's Delta Academy ("Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Preparing Young Women For the 21st Century") is designed for girls ages 11 to 14, who have an interest in developing leadership skills. The program is named in honor of sorority member, the late Dr. Betty Shabazz, wife of Malcolm X. It is for girls who demonstrate the potential for success, but may not have support systems or access to financial resources. Participants are exposed to math, science, technology, and non-traditional careers. The Delta Academy sessions may also include service learning activities, field trips and book clubs.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Delta Academy's symbol is the dream catcher. In Native American culture, the dream catcher possesses power to capture bad dreams and entangle them into a web. The good dreams pass through the dream hoop's open center into the person.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Delta GEMS is an outgrowth and continuation of the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy Program. Delta GEMS was created to assist in facilitating the dreams and goals of at-risk, adolescent African-American girls, aged 14–18. Goals for Delta GEMS are:


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The Delta GEMS framework has five major components (Scholarship, Sisterhood, "Show Me the Money", Service, and Infinitely Complete), which forms a road map for college and career planning. Topics within the five major components provide interactive lessons and activities which allow opportunities for individual growth. Delta GEMS, like Delta Academy, is implemented by Delta Sigma Theta's chapters.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Lawry's Foods partnered with Delta Sigma Theta to create the National Collegiate Public Service Caddy and Grant Recognition Program. The Collegiate Challenge recognizes and rewards a Delta collegiate chapter in each of Delta's regions for the Delta GEMS program's outstanding implementation. Regional winners receive $1,000, and the grand prize winner receives $5,000. In 2006, collegiate chapters were asked to partner with other collegiate chapters, alumnae chapters or community organizations in their municipality.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The Maryland Educational Opportunity Center was established in 1979 and created with a special service grant of $450,000 – the largest grant awarded by the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. MEOC is a free program in Baltimore which provides information and counseling services to adults and youths interested attending college or vocational/technical school. Having seven outreach centers, the program is sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta and funded by the federal government. The MEOC is a federal TRIO program and one of 130 Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) in the country. From 1979 to 2006, MEOC has served more than 78,000 individuals. Nearly 20,000 participants were enrolled in postsecondary institutions.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The EMBODI (Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence) program is designed to refocus the efforts of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., with the support and action of other major organizations, on the plight of African-American males. Both informal and empirical data suggests that the vast majority of African-American males continues to be in crisis and is not reaching its fullest potential educationally, socially and emotionally. EMBODI is designed to address these issues through dialogue, and recommendations for change and action. EMBODI will include a program format and information template. The delivery options may include a town hall meeting, workshops, and/or teen leadership summits.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In honor of the 22 Founders, in January 2003, members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., as a part of the four-day celebration of the Sorority's 90th anniversary, then National President Gwendolyn Boyd, presented Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert with a check for $1 million as an endowed scholarship, completely paid in full.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The Distinguished Professor Endowed Chair Award, established in 1977 at the 34th National Convention as a perpetual trust fund, confirms and extends the Sorority's longstanding commitment to educational excellence through quality instruction at historically Black colleges and universities. Delta Sigma Theta's purpose it to support and sustain these historical institutions, supply assistance to enable the expansion of educational opportunities, and to give long overdue recognition to distinguished Black instructors and professors. Biennially, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. makes a grant to a historically Black college or university that provides support for a professor of distinction to be in residence.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The Total Woman: Mind, Body, and Spirit Lifestyle Change Initiative impacts the well-being of sorority members and members' families and communities at-large. The Lifestyle Change initiative was started in 2004 by the Health Taskforce, providing physical and mental health expertise. Some of the program's goals are to educate on the importance and benefits of lifestyle changes affecting longevity, morbidity, and mortality; to identify organizational alliances that work towards address pertinent health issues; and to develop and implement health-focused programs.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Through the Initiative, the sorority is working to combat the high incidence of women's obesity. The program's first component is a challenge to chapter members to achieve and maintain healthier weights.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In 2006, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, in collaboration with Dr. Ian K. Smith and State Farm Insurance, began a partnership, encouraging members to become healthier by exercising and eating properly. Members joined with others in the African-American community to reverse the deadly effects of obesity. At the 2008 National Convention in Orlando, Florida, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was presented with an award for the most weight lost by any sorority or fraternity.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Heart disease is the leading killer of women and of women of color in the United States. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was the first sorority to join the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign as an organizational alliance working to educate women on heart disease.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In 1989, the National Social Action Commission instituted Delta Days in the Nation's Capital. Delta Days is an annual legislative conference to increase sorority members' involvement in the national public policy-making process. The annual conference includes legislative briefings, issue forums, and developing advocacy skills. Featured speakers include key policy makers, members of the United States Congress, staff members, and national policy experts.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In 2009, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority celebrated the twentieth anniversary of Delta Days in the Nation's Capital. The theme was "Advocacy in Action: Strengthening Our Legacy". Topics included empowering membership to be effective social action advocates in the areas of quality education, affordable health care, Census 2010, and economic viability. An orientation for first-time attendees providing "how to's" on navigating the legislative process, legislative letter writing, congressional testimony, resolution writing, and coalition building was provided.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In addition to Delta Days in the Nation's Capital, each state organizes annual events in which members discuss and advocate state and local issues with their state legislative bodies.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: On March 27, 2003, Delta Sigma Theta became a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with special consultative status at the United Nations. National President Gwendolyn Boyd accepted the credentials on behalf of the sorority, before 150 UN members from across the world, in a presentation by Hanifa Mezoui, Chief NGO Secretary in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the UN (ECOSOC). Delta Sigma Theta was welcomed to the United Nations by Assistant Secretary General for External Affairs, Gillian Sorensen, who advised the sorority, "[to] use your NGO status to monitor the status of women and children in the world and bind together with other NGOs to insure that the UN honors its commitments." Delta Sigma Theta was granted Special Consultative Status as an NGO to the Economic and Social Council of the UN as a result of volunteer services and humanitarian efforts around the world. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is the first African American Sorority, and one of only three African-American organizations with the NGO special consultative status with the United Nations, the other two African American organizations with this status are the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. and The Links, Incorporated.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Both other organizations have significant ties to Delta Sigma Theta. National Council of Negro Women, Inc. was founded by Delta member Mary McLeod Bethune, and headed by many Delta members including Delta 10th National President, Dorothy Irene Height for more than five decades, and currently by Delta member Ingrid Saunders Jones. The Links co-founder and first president, Sarah Strickland Scott was a member of Delta Sigma Theta, and several national presidents of the Links are also Delta members including Immediate Past National President Margot James Copeland.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: As part of their advocacy for voting rights, Delta Sigma Theta has partnered with VoteRiders, an organization that seeks to assist eligible voters in exercising their right to vote.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority supported the World AIDS campaign in observance of World AIDS Day, on December 1, 2008. With the slogan "Stop AIDS! Keep the Promise", Delta Sigma Theta promotes workshops, programs, and information dissemination. Individual chapters and members continue increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS in the community


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Concerns about inadequate prenatal and maternity care for women in Africa prompted Delta Sigma Theta to invest in health care for women in Kenya. In 1955, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority established a maternity wing and health services in Thika Town. The sorority began planning for a larger facility in the early 1960s, and financed construction of Thika Maternity Hospital. The first hospital to open after Kenya gained independence in 1963, it is now known as Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital. Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary operate the facility.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In 1985, Delta Sigma Theta members visited the hospital. They were able to see the positive results of an increased population and improved infant mortality rate in and around Thika. In response, the sorority donated another $20,000, to establish two additional maternity wards and an administrative office.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital now has 121 beds, and provides affordable prenatal and postnatal care, nutritional education, child immunization, and family planning. The hospital gives prenatal care, including lab work, blood tests, and examinations for 200 women each day. The facility also has a special-care nursery for newborn babies. The hospital serves to educate nurses and midwives. Over 66 students are trained each year.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In April 2006, Delta Sigma Theta commemorated 25 years of providing summit programs with an International Awareness Program: "Summit VI: Health Issues Impacting Women of African Descent". Held in Jamaica, the health issues summit heightened awareness of increases in diabetes, heart disease and obesity among African-American women. The conference included various formats for a variety of health care experts to disseminate information, such as workshops, panels, and town hall formats.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: On , former executive director and member Jeanine Henderson Arnett and her husband, Diallo Arnett pleaded guilty in Federal court to embezzling more than $200,000 from Delta Sigma Theta. Due to the gravity of the crime, Jeanine Henderson Arnett was expelled from the organization when the sorority discovered the misappropriated money, and reported the crime.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: News reports indicate that the couple spent the money on items like designer Coach handbags, rental cars, real estate, Amazon purchases and other expenses between 2017 and 2019. Federal prosecutors also determined that over $14,000 had been transferred to their personal bank account. Channing Phillips, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said in a press release: "While Delta Sigma Theta and its members were committed to a mission of public service, the defendants were committed to a mission of personal benefit, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars to use for their own pleasure."


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In November 2021, Jeanine was sentenced to 16 months in prison and her husband Diallo was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison. They must collectively pay $228,357 in fines and will be placed on five years' supervised released after their prison sentence.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In October 2011, a serial rapist in the Dallas area was reported to be targeting Delta Sigma Theta alumnae, attacking four alumnae in their mid-50s to mid-60s over an eleven-month period. The sorority issued a release advising its members not to identify their affiliation with the sorority via their cars, key chains, clothing, or Facebook postings.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The case was featured on the December 9, 2011, episode of "America's Most Wanted". A suspect has been identified and arrested.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: At Western Illinois University in January 1999, a Delta pledge was hospitalized due to torn skin on her lower back and buttock from severe beatings by Delta women. She sued the sorority for an undisclosed amount.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: At Norfolk State University in February 1999, a Delta pledge was hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit after a series of physical beatings and strenuous activities. Nine sorority members, two of whom were about to graduate, were expelled from the university in May.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: At McNeese State University in September 2006, the sorority was found guilty of severely hazing pledges. 11 members involved were each fined $1,000 and the chapter was fined $1,000 by the sorority's headquarters. The university banned the sorority from campus for four years.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, April 2009, one Delta was arrested on two counts of simple battery and several other Deltas were disciplined for the physical and mental abuse of pledges. One pledge was admitted to the hospital due to internal bleeding and stomach pains she developed because of physical abuse by members of the sorority.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: At Northern Kentucky University in 2009, the chapter was suspended from campus for beating three pledges repeatedly and severely with paddles.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: At the University of Tampa in 2010, three high-ranking Deltas of the university's chapter had a complaint filed against them by the university in a circuit court for hazing pledges. These three Deltas forced pledges to run long distances, do push-ups, squats, eat garlic wrapped in Big Red gum and drink hot sauce, hold a match between their fingers while reciting a pledge, had rocks and grass thrown at them and paddled them. The Deltas accused of hazing filed a petition against the university stating they were unfairly targeted as black women because all-white fraternities on campus engaged in similar hazing rituals, including tasering pledges, but were collectively sanctioned and given probation for one semester. The Hillsborough County Circuit Court dismissed their petition stating that the university was not at fault.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: At East Carolina University, November 2010, Delta pledges Victoria Carter and Briana Gather died in a traffic accident around 6:30 am on the way to a hair appointment that had been set up to prepare for initiation. Gather and Carter had undergone a number of grueling hazing activities that week, including the "Delta TV", in which the pledges were forced to get into and hold a push-up position, do "wall sits" and maintain that stance for a long period of time, and do the "Delta Chair": standing on one leg and holding heavy bricks over their heads. The pledges also wore "Delta Lipstick": hot sauce rubbed on their lips, and ate a "Delta Apple", a large raw onion; they were also asked to eat large amounts of cottage cheese, and drink buttermilk. The driver of the vehicle, a fellow pledge who survived, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. According to the lawsuit filed by the family, she was suffering from "excessive and overwhelming fatigue, exhaustion and sleep deprivation and fell asleep behind the wheel" due to the pledging exercises.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The night and morning hours prior to the accident, the pledges had been practicing the "probate death march", an aspect of the initiation ceremony. They did not have the opportunity to sleep as a result of the long hours of practice. Members of the sorority were also accused of lying and attempting to destroy all evidence of hazing throughout the investigation process in the lawsuit filed.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In 2010, the sorority was banned from Winston-Salem State University for ten years following a hazing investigation, however, the suspension was lifted five years after the initial ruling. The sorority was previously suspended for endangering pledges and other hazing activity.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: At Baylor University in 2012, the sorority was placed on suspension by the university for a few years due to reports of hazing. Delta Sigma Theta and Alpha Kappa Alpha were the only sororities on campus suspended for hazing between 2010 and 2015.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: At Florida A&M University in 2013, it was anonymously reported a Delta pledge lost consciousness one night after being forced to do squats for a long period of time. Women pledging were physically and verbally punished if any forgot information they were asked to remember about each of their 54 "line sisters." Members of the sorority initially denied all hazing allegations but a thorough investigation led to the sorority being placed on suspension until at least June 2016 and the 2013 pledge line was dropped.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: At Ohio State University in 2013, the university banned Delta Sigma Theta from campus until at least fall 2016. The sorority was found guilty of hazing and violating the university's codes of conduct.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: The chapter at Louisiana State University (LSU) was banned from campus for several years (ended July 2019) for alleged repeated hazing violations. The banning of sororities at LSU is rare; the banning of fraternities is more common.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In December 2014, VH1 debuted a reality TV show named "Sorority Sisters" that followed the personal and professional lives of several alumnae members of National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities in Atlanta, Georgia. Five members of the cast were Deltas that complained about death threats and harassment they received from those displeased with their appearance on the show. In January 2015, the highest leadership of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. expelled the five cast members from the sorority. The expelled members maintain their innocence and feel like they were mistreated by their former sorority. The Delta cast members were the only cast members that had their sorority memberships permanently revoked. Two cast members of Alpha Kappa Alpha had their memberships temporarily suspended. Cast members having Zeta Phi Beta or Sigma Gamma Rho memberships never had them jeopardized. The show was cancelled before the last three scheduled episodes aired.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In January 2018, one of the expelled members filed a lawsuit against Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. In her lawsuit it states the sorority never reprimanded members that she alleged publicly harassed her and sent death threats, never expelled a celebrity sorority member who starred in similar shows on VH1, she never claimed on the show to represent the sorority, and she lost many paid opportunities due to the sorority involvement in vilifying the show and getting it cancelled. As the plaintiff in the lawsuit, she is seeking to be compensated for lost wages and for mental and emotional abuse.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: In 1963 the Sorority's Golden 50th Anniversary was celebrated, the same year as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Delta Sigma Theta's 10th National President Dorothy Height was an organizer of the March and was the sole woman to have been seated on the Speakers' Platform. Delta members were also present at the March in large numbers.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: At the Golden Anniversary Luncheon held January 12, 1963, President John F. Kennedy addressed the membership and congratulated the sorority on their anniversary and explained the necessity for all Americans to have equal opportunities for education. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas also addressed the membership during the Golden Anniversary Celebration in 1963 at a reception held January 13. In addition, Founders Osceola McCarthy Adams, Winona Cargile Alexander, Ethel Cuff Black, Bertha Pitts Campbell, Myra Davis Hemmings, Jimmie Bugg Middleton, Eliza Pearl Shippen, Florence Letcher Toms, Wertie Blackwell Weaver, and Madree Penn White were also in attendance. Soror Mary Elizabeth Vrooman wrote "Shaped to its Purpose", a 50-year history of Delta Sigma Theta, which was published in 1965.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. began its year-long centennial celebration January 1, 2013. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. kicked off its centennial year by being the first Black Greek Lettered Organization to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on New Years Day with a float entitled "Transforming Communities through Sisterhood and Service." Then National President Cynthia M.A. Butler-McIntyre accepted a proclamation presented by Local Officials in Pasadena in honor of the Sorority's 100 years of public service. On Thursday January 10, 2013, hundreds of members of Delta Sigma Theta gathered in New York City in Times Square for appearances on the Today Show and Good Morning America, followed by a massive caravan to Washington, D.C., which included busses bearing the Centennial logo.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: During January 11–13, 2013, more than 12,000 members of Delta Sigma Theta convened in Washington, D.C., at Howard University to participate in a range of activities which included twenty-two distinct service activities Friday January 12, 2013, and many galas and activities honoring the Sorority's accomplishments. March 1–5, 2013, thousands of members of Delta Sigma Theta participated in the Delta Days at the Nation's Capital. This is an annual event in which members of Delta Sigma Theta converge on Washington, D.C. to discuss with members of Congress pertinent issues that affect women and the Black Community. On March 3, 2013, during the Delta Days at the Nation's capital event, Delta Sigma Theta organized a re-enactment of the Woman Suffrage Parade of 1913. The women's suffrage march originally took place March 3, 1913. Delta Sigma Theta was the only Black Women's organization to participate in the original march. March 8, 2013, Delta Sigma Theta participated in its tenth annual Delta Day at the United Nations to celebrate "A decade of commitment to global advocacy and protecting the rights of women and girls."


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: On June 15, 2013, the Cynthia M.A. Butler-McIntyre Campus of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Elementary School opened in Cherette, Haiti. By rebuilding an improved school with larger classrooms and implementing new technologies and unlimited access to clean water, promotes academic excellence in the remote village of Cherette, located 96 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince. The Delta Research & Educational Foundation will support the elementary school by providing funds earmarked to support initiatives to provide clean water for Haitians impacted by the earthquake of January 2010. The site of the school will afford members an opportunity to engage in an enhanced learning environment and promote educational advancement throughout the community of Cherette while experiencing a hands-on global service learning experience. The school project involves the construction of an administrative office building and six classrooms. In recognition of the Delta Research & Educational Foundation's grant in support of clean water at the school site, the Chérette school administration will name the school Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Elementary School, The Cynthia M. A. Butler-McIntyre Campus. Designated areas of the school will be named in honor of the seven living Past National Presidents: Frankie Muse Freeman, Esq., Dr. Thelma T. Dailey, Mona Humphries Bailey, Dr. Bertha M. Roddey, Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge, Rev. Gwendolyn E. Boyd and Dr. Louise A. Rice.


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. during the week of July 11–17, 2013, in Washington, D.C., celebrated its Centennial Convention. More than 40,000 registered and countless unregistered members participated in activities which included multiple service activities, and recognition for the many achievements the Sorority accumulated over the past 100 years. As part of the yearlong celebration, a 22-city tour of the Delta Torch, which symbolizes the "passion and commitment to the organization's global reach", which kicked off in Los Angeles – with Delta's historic participation in the 2013 Tournament of Roses Parade – and continued through Seattle, Dallas, Little Rock, Detroit, Atlanta, Charlotte, New York City and Baltimore and International chapters in Japan and Bermuda. The tour culminated in Washington, D.C., at the 51st national convention July 11, 2013, when it was passed to national president, signifying the start of the convention. During the Centennial Convention, the Mayor of Washington D.C., honored the work of Delta Sigma Theta by honorarily renaming the 1700 block of New Hampshire Ave NW in Washington, D.C. "Delta Sigma Theta Way".


title: Delta Sigma Theta

text: Throughout 2013 Delta Sigma Theta was honored in many ways by outside individuals and organizations, including being highlighted in a Wal-Mart commercial, Being honored by an NBA team, the Cleveland Cavaliers Being featured in large national periodicals and various news channels including CNN, MSNBC, "The New York Times", "The Wall Street Journal", and "The Washington Post" among others, their accomplishments were praised by National Leaders such as Attorney General, and Delta husband, Eric Holder who stated, "As I look around this crowd today, I'm certain that – if you continue to hold fast to the values, the ideals, and the extraordinary history, that have been entrusted to you – then yours will be a future defined by continued progress, and limitless possibilities." and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who stated, "Delta means change and Deltas are called to serve... Wherever you see women advancing, you see Deltas!". Both the American and Canadian Falls in Niagara Falls on February 22, 2013, and the White House on January 13, 2013, were illuminated with red lighting in honor of the Sorority's Centennial celebration. And President Barack Obama invited Delta Leadership to the White House, and personally addressed them in the oval office, President Obama also addressed attendees via video at the Centennial celebration closing gala. In Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel on the Campus of Howard University a Delta Sigma Theta themed window was dedicated to the sorority. In addition, on August 28, 2013, members of Delta Sigma Theta participated in the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.


title: Type 004 aircraft carrier

text: The Type 004 aircraft carrier is a planned aircraft carrier of the People's Liberation Army Navy's aircraft carrier programme. It is intended to be an iteration on the preceding Type 003 aircraft carrier, and like the Type 003, it will feature an integrated electric propulsion system that will allow the operation of electromagnetic launch catapults. Unlike the conventionally-powered Type 003, the Type 004 will be larger and also the first Chinese carrier to feature nuclear marine propulsion, and could generate enough electricity to power laser weapons and railguns currently under development. , China hoped to complete this carrier by the late 2020s, and indicated that up to four might be built.


title: Type 004 aircraft carrier

text: In 2017, China's central government was reportedly ready to spend RMB 22 billion (US$3.3 billion) on the development of two prototype molten salt nuclear reactors to be built at Wuwei in Gansu province. The goal then was to have the reactors operational by 2020. The PLA Navy is interested in the technology to power its warships and aircraft carriers.


title: Type 004 aircraft carrier

text: In late 2017, 1600-ton gantry cranes were installed in Jiangnan Shipyard, prompting speculation that the aircraft carrier would be built there. Later, in March 2018, a leak by shipbuilder China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, the owner of Dalian Shipyard, suggested that the nuclear-powered Type 004 aircraft carrier would be part of its portfolio as well. In April 2018, "news.com.au", an Australian tabloid claimed that metal cutting for the Type 004 began back in December 2017.


title: Type 004 aircraft carrier

text: The Type 004 would likely carry a complement of J-15 and J-31 fighters, Xian KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft, anti-submarine warfare aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force, and stealth attack drones.


title: Type 004 aircraft carrier

text: It was previously suggested that the aircraft carrier could carry J-20 aircraft. However, in a programme on China Central Television, PLA Navy Rear Admiral Zhang Zhaozhong dismissed the possibility that the aircraft would be used on aircraft carriers as the aircraft was not structurally designed to cope with carrier operations. In addition, it does not have folding wings for compact storage, and its stealth coating would be susceptible to degradation while at sea.


title: F-distribution

text: In probability theory and statistics, the "F"-distribution or F-ratio, also known as Snedecor's "F" distribution or the Fisher–Snedecor distribution (after Ronald Fisher and George W. Snedecor) is a continuous probability distribution that arises frequently as the null distribution of a test statistic, most notably in the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and other "F"-tests.


title: F-distribution

text: where formula_10 and formula_11 are independent random variables with chi-square distributions with respective degrees of freedom formula_12 and formula_13.


title: F-distribution

text: for real "x" > 0. Here formula_15 is the beta function. In many applications, the parameters "d" and "d" are positive integers, but the distribution is well-defined for positive real values of these parameters.


title: F-distribution

text: The expectation, variance, and other details about the F("d", "d") are given in the sidebox; for "d" > 8, the excess kurtosis is


title: F-distribution

text: The "k"-th moment of an F("d", "d") distribution exists and is finite only when 2"k" < "d" and it is equal to


title: F-distribution

text: The "F"-distribution is a particular parametrization of the beta prime distribution, which is also called the beta distribution of the second kind.


title: F-distribution

text: The characteristic function is listed incorrectly in many standard references (e.g.,). The correct expression is


title: F-distribution

text: A random variate of the "F"-distribution with parameters formula_20 and formula_21 arises as the ratio of two appropriately scaled chi-squared variates:


title: F-distribution

text: In instances where the "F"-distribution is used, for example in the analysis of variance, independence of formula_23 and formula_24 might be demonstrated by applying Cochran's theorem.


title: F-distribution

text: where formula_32 and formula_33, formula_34 is the sum of squares of formula_20 random variables from normal distribution formula_36 and formula_37 is the sum of squares of formula_21 random variables from normal distribution formula_39.


title: F-distribution

text: In a frequentist context, a scaled "F"-distribution therefore gives the probability formula_40, with the "F"-distribution itself, without any scaling, applying where formula_41 is being taken equal to formula_42. This is the context in which the "F"-distribution most generally appears in "F"-tests: where the null hypothesis is that two independent normal variances are equal, and the observed sums of some appropriately selected squares are then examined to see whether their ratio is significantly incompatible with this null hypothesis.


title: F-distribution

text: The quantity formula_43 has the same distribution in Bayesian statistics, if an uninformative rescaling-invariant Jeffreys prior is taken for the prior probabilities of formula_41 and formula_42. In this context, a scaled "F"-distribution thus gives the posterior probability formula_46, where the observed sums formula_47 and formula_48 are now taken as known.


title: Moro people

text: The Moro people or Bangsamoro people are the 13 Muslim-majority ethnolinguistic Austronesian groups of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan, native to the region known as the Bangsamoro (lit. "Moro nation" or "Moro country"). As Muslim-majority ethnic groups, they form the largest non-Christian population in the Philippines, and comprise about 5% of the country's total population, or 5 million people.


title: Moro people

text: Most Moros are followers of Sunni Islam of the Shafiʽi school of fiqh. The Moros were once independent under a variety of local states, including the Sultanate of Sulu, the Sultanate of Maguindanao, and the Confederation of sultanates in Lanao; withstanding repeated Spanish invasions, the Moro states remained de facto independent up until the Moro Rebellion of the early 20th century. Upon Philippine independence in 1946, the Moros continued their struggle for self-determination against a predominantly–Christian Philippines, culminating in a decades-long insurgency of armed rebel groups, chief among them the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), against the Armed Forces of the Philippines.


title: Moro people

text: The Moro people are guaranteed an autonomous region by the Constitution of the Philippines; the establishment of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao however did not satisfy the demands of rebel groups. A ceasefire and successful peace talks between the Philippine government and the MILF led to the creation in 2018 of a region with greater political autonomy and powers, known as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.


title: Moro people

text: Today, outside of the Bangsamoro autonomous region, the Moro people are a significant minority in other nearby provinces in Southern Mindanao and in the province of Palawan, Samar, Bicol Region, and are a visible and integrated minority in various urban centers of the country, such as Manila, Cebu, and Davao. Outside of the Philippines, some Moros remain in areas once controlled by the Sulu Sultanate along the eastern coast of Sabah; others emigrated to neighboring Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei in the late 20th century due to the Moro conflict in Mindanao. Newer communities can be found today in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Semporna in Sabah, Malaysia, North Kalimantan in Indonesia, and in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.


title: Moro people

text: The word "Moro" (a cognate of the English "Moors") originates as an exonym which, prior to the Spaniards' arrival in the Philippine archipelago, came to be used by the Spanish in reference to Muslims in general. The term originates from "Mauru", a Latin word that referred to the inhabitants of the ancient Roman province of Mauritania in northwest Africa, which today comprises the modern Muslim states of Morocco. With the rise of Mauritania as part of the Muslim Umayyad Caliphate, Muslim armies conquered and ruled much of the Iberian Peninsula from 711 to 1492, for about a total of 781 years in which Christians became involved in conflicts to reclaim Iberia. The term came to be extended to Muslims in general. The term was similarly applied by the Spanish to the Muslim communities they found in parts of the Philippine archipelago when they arrived.


title: Moro people

text: In their struggle for self-determination, the term was later adopted in the names for separatist organizations such as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Rashid Lucman's Bangsa Moro Liberation Organisation (BMLO) as well the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).


title: Moro people

text: The recently coined term "Bangsamoro" is derived from the Malay word ""bangsa"", (originally meaning "nation" but altered to denote "race" in colonial times) with the ""Moro"" as "people" and may also be used to describe both the Muslim-majority ethnolinguistic groups and their homeland. The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro recognizes "Bangsamoro" as an identity and called for the creation of a new autonomous political entity called Bangsamoro.


title: Moro people

text: Though the term may carry some derogatory connations by some, the term Moro has evolved to become seen as a unitary force especially by the Philippine government, despite opposition from some of the modern Muslim communities in the Philippines who object to the term's origin with the Spanish colonial era. Marvic Leonen, who was the Chief Peace Negotiator for Philippine government with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, has said:


title: Moro people

text: The Muslim-majority Philippine ethnic groups according to the Bureau on Cultural Heritage (BCH) of Bangsamoro include:


title: Moro people

text: The majority of the Moro people historically reside in the area now called the "Bangsamoro" region which was commonly called Muslim Mindanao in 1989 when the ARMM was created. That land is located in the provinces of Basilan, Cotabato, Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Palawan, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sulu, Tawi-Tawi. It includes the cities of Cotabato, Dapitan, Dipolog, General Santos, Iligan, Marawi. The eastern part of a territory of the former British protectorate in North Borneo (now in the eastern Sabah), which have since become part of the federation of Malaysia, is also claimed by the Moro National Liberation Front for the proposed state of Bangsamoro Republik. However, the idea has failed since the MNLF founding leader Misuari self-exiled himself after clashing with the government in 2013 in Zamboanga City, as he protested the further unilateral changes by the government on the mutually signed 1996 Final Peace Agreement. Misuari was labelled as a "terrorist" during the siege.


title: Moro people

text: On 5 August 2008, after nearly 10 years of negotiation, with all Thebes's associated international bodies all ready to witness a supposed historic event, an attempt by the Philippine government's Peace Negotiating Panel to sign a Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front through a petition by Settler politicians in Mindanao like Governor Manny Pinol and Governor Lobregat, was then declared unconstitutional by the Philippine Supreme Court. Conflict immediately broke out on the ground following the decision, with nearly half a million people displaced and hundreds killed. Observers now concur that two Moro commanders — Kumander Umbra Kato and Kumander Bravo — did launch attacks in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato as a response to the non-signing that has shaken the peace process in the region.


title: Moro people

text: The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro defines the Bangsamoro to be who at the time of conquest and colonization were considered natives or original inhabitants of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago and its adjacent islands including Palawan, and their descendants whether of mixed or of full blood".


title: Moro people

text: Islam is the most dominant influence on the Moro cultures since the era of the Sultanate of Maguindanao and Sulu. Large and small mosques can be found all over the region. In accordance with Islamic Law, alcohol consumption must be avoided at all cost, fornication is prohibited. Pork and pork byproducts are not permissible. Fasting during Ramadan and providing charity for the poor are mandatory in Islam. The Hajj is also a major requirement as it is one of the five pillars of Islam. Moro women cover themselves using a veil ("tudong") just as in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore and southern Thailand. Moro men, especially the elderly, can always be seen wearing a black skull cap called the "songkok" or the white one called the "taqiyah". Differentiating from their Malay relatives in neighboring countries, the only main problems associated with Moro groups is that they are not always united and lack a sense of solidarity.


title: Moro people

text: The culture of the Moros of Mindanao revolves around the music of the kulintang, a type of gong instrument, akin to the drum instrument, yet wholly made of bronze or brass found in the southern Philippines. This creates a unique sound that varies in the speed it is hit which includes the Binalig, Tagonggo and the Kapanirong plus others more also normally heard in Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.


title: Moro people

text: Generally, Moros are educated. While the majority of Moros attend both government and private educational institutions especially in key cities such as Davao, Cebu and Manila, some may choose formal Islamic education and are enrolled in Islamic/Arabic institutions like the Jamiatul Mindanao Al-Islamie in Marawi City. At the tertiary level, there are government and privately run educational institutions in the traditionally Moro-inhabited areas. In Marawi, many attend Mindanao State University, the second-biggest state university in the Philippines next to University of the Philippines, which has several campuses across Mindanao. Mindanao State University also has an Islamic Institute within its campus (the King Faisal Centre for Islamic Arabic, Asian Studies). With the assistance of scholarship grants, some even attend university outside the country.


title: Moro people

text: In the 13th century, the arrival of Muslim missionaries, in particular Makhdum Karim, in Tawi-Tawi initiated the conversion of the native population to Islam. Trade between other sultanates in Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia helped establish and entrench the Islamic religion in the southern Philippines. In 1457, the introduction of Islam led to the creation of Sultanates. This included Rajah Buayan, the Sultanate of Maguindanao and the Sultanate of Sulu, which is considered the oldest Muslim government in the region until its annexation by the United States in 1898.


title: Moro people

text: Like Bruneian Empire, Sulu and other Muslim sultanates in the Philippines were introduced to Islam through Chinese Muslims, Persians, and Arab traders. Chinese Muslim merchants participated in the local commerce, and the Sultanate had diplomatic relations with Ming China. As it was involved in the tribute system, the Sulu leader Paduka Batara and his sons moved to China, where he died and Chinese Muslims subsequently brought up his sons. The inhabitants of pre-Hispanic Philippines practised Islam and animism. The Malay kingdoms interacted, and traded with various tribes throughout the islands, governing several territories ruled by leaders called rajah, datu and sultan. Before the arrival of Islam, rajahs and datus governed the territories.


title: Moro people

text: In 1519, the Spanish expedition to the East Indies began in search for a westward route to the Maluku Islands (the "Spice Islands"), led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. The fleet reached the Philippine archipelago in March 1521 where Magellan was to die during the Battle of Mactan and before the expedition's successful circumnavigation and return. Several subsequent expeditions to the islands were sent until the 1564 Miguel Lopez de Legazpi was successful, marking the start of Spanish colonization of what is now the Philippines in 1565.


title: Moro people

text: The sultanates, however, actively resisted the Spaniards. With intentions of pacifying the islands, the Spaniards made incursions into Moro territory. They also began erecting military stations and garrisons with Catholic missions, which attracted Christianised natives of civilian settlements. The most notable of these are Zamboanga and Cotabato. Spain was in the midst of the Inquisition which required Jews and Muslims to convert to Roman Catholicism or leave or face the death penalty; thus Spaniards tried to ban and suppress Islam in areas they conquered. Feeling threatened by these actions, the Moros decided to challenge the Spanish government. They began conducting raids on Catholic coastal towns. These Moro raids reached a fevered pitched during the reign of Datu Bantilan in 1754.


title: Moro people

text: The Spanish–Moro Conflict started at the phase of Castille War (Spanish-Bruneian War) of 1578, which created the war between Spaniards and Moros in areas held by Sultanate of Brunei, lasted several hundred years, while the Castille War itself lasted only two months. The string of coastal fortifications, military garrisons and forts built by the Spaniards ensured that these raids, although destructive to the Philippine economies of the coastal settlements, were eventually stifled. The advent of steam-powered naval ships in the 1800s finally drove the antiquated Moro navy of colorful proas and vintas to their bases. It took at least two decades of the presence of the Spanish in the Philippines for them to launch an extensive conquest of Mindanao. The Sultanate of Sulu, one of the last Sultanates existing, itself soon fell under a concerted naval and ground attack from Spanish forces. In the last quarter of the 19th century Moros in the Sultanate of Sulu allowed the Spanish to build forts, but these areas remained loosely controlled by the Spanish as their sovereignty was limited to military stations and garrisons and pockets of civilian resettlements in Zamboanga and Cotabato (the latter under the Sultanate of Maguindanao), until the Spanish had to abandon the region as a consequence of their defeat in the Spanish–American War. Before that, in order to retain independence, the Sultanate of Sulu had given up its rule over Palawan to Spain in 1705 and Basilan to Spain in 1762; the areas that the Sulu Sultanate gave partial rule to Spain are Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.


title: Moro people

text: In 1876, the Spaniards launched a campaign to placate Jolo and made a final bid to establish a government in the southern islands. On 21 February of that year, the Spaniards assembled the largest contingent in Jolo, consisting of 9,000 soldiers in 11 transports, 11 gunboats and 11 steamboats. José Malcampo occupied Jolo and established a Spanish settlement with Pascual Cervera appointed to set up a garrison and serve as military governor. He served from March 1876 to December 1876 and was followed by José Paulin (December 1876 – April 1877), Carlos Martínez (September 1877 – February 1880), Rafael de Rivera (1880–1881), Isidro G. Soto (1881–1882), Eduardo Bremon, (1882), Julian Parrrado (1882–1884), Francisco Castilla (1884–1886), Juan Arolas (1886–1893), Caésar Mattos (1893), Venancio Hernández (1893–1896) and Luis Huerta (1896–1899).


title: Moro people

text: The Chinese sold small arms like Enfield and Spencer Rifles to the Buayan Sultanate of Datu Uto. They were used to battle the Spanish invasion of the Sultanate of Buayan. The Datu paid for the weapons in slaves.


title: Moro people

text: The population of Chinese in Mindanao in the 1880s was 1,000. The Chinese ran guns across a Spanish blockade to sell to Mindanao Moros. The purchases of these weapons were paid for by the Moros in slaves in addition to other goods. The main group of people selling guns were the Chinese in Sulu. The Chinese took control of the economy and used steamers to ship goods for exporting and importing. Opium, ivory, textiles, and crockery were among the other goods which the Chinese sold. The Chinese on Maimbung sent the weapons to the Sulu Sultanate, who used them to battle the Spanish and resist their attacks. A Chinese-Mestizo was one of the Sultan's brothers-in-law, the Sultan was married to his sister. He and the Sultan both owned shares in the ship (named the Far East) which helped smuggle weapons.


title: Moro people

text: The Spanish launched a surprise offensive under Colonel Juan Arolas in April 1887 by attacking the sultanate's capital at Maimbung in an effort to crush resistance. Weapons were captured and the property of the Chinese were destroyed while the Chinese were deported to Jolo. By 1878, the Spanish had fortified Jolo with a perimeter wall and tower gates, built inner forts called Puerta Blockaus, Puerta España and Puerta Alfonso XII, and two outer fortifications named "Princesa de Asturias" and "Torre de la Reina". Troops, including a cavalry with its own lieutenant commander, were garrisoned within the protective confine of the walls. In 1880, Rafael Gonzales de Rivera, who was appointed the governor, dispatched the 6th Regiment to govern Siasi and Bongao islands.


title: Moro people

text: After the Spanish–American War, Spain ceded to the United States administration of the Philippine archipelago, which included Sulu and Mindanao, by the 1898 Treaty of Paris. At the beginning of their administration, American officials began about suppressing any remaining violence in the Moro areas. The problem of "Juramentados" persisted in the early 20th century but was eventually successfully stopped by the Americans.


title: Moro people

text: The Moros fought against the Japanese occupation of Mindanao and Sulu during World War II and eventually drove them out. Also when the Japanese occupied the northern Borneo area, they also helped their relatives there in a struggle to fight off the Japanese where many of them, including women and children, were massacred after their revolt with the Chinese had been foiled by the Japanese.


title: Moro people

text: After gaining independence from the United States, the Moro population, which was isolated from the mainstream and experienced discrimination by the Philippine government, added to the fact that they were now governed by what they view as the former foot soldiers of Spain, their ancestral lands given away to settlers and corporations by land-tenure Laws, arming the settlers as militia in Mindanao, Filipinisation was a government policy which eventually gave rise to armed secession movements. Thus, the struggle for independence has been in existence for several centuries, starting from the Spanish period, the Moro rebellion during the United States occupation and up to the present day. Modern-day Moro conflict began in the 1960s. During the period, the Philippine government envisioned a new country in which Christian and Moro would be assimilated into the dominant culture. This vision, however, was generally rejected by both groups, the Christians remembering stories from Spanish foot soldiers of how fierce the Moro was, and the Moro remembering the Christian as aiding its hated Spanish enemy for 300 years. These two prejudices continue to this day. Because of this, the National government realized that there was a need for a specialized agency to deal with the Moro community, so it set up the Commission for National Integration (CNI) in the 1960s, which was later replaced by the Office of Muslim Affairs, and Cultural Communities (OMACC) and later on as OMA.


title: Moro people

text: As they thought, concessions were made to the Moro after the creation of these agencies, with the Moro population receiving exemptions from national laws prohibiting polygamy and divorce which the Moro has already been exercising. In 1977, the Philippine government made another palliative attempt to move a step further by harmonizing Moro customary law with the national law which has no bearing at all for the Moro. Naturally, most of these achievements were seen as superficial. The Moro, still dissatisfied with the past Philippine governments' policies and misunderstanding established a first separatist group known as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by Nur Misuari with the intention of creating an independent country. This initiated the modern Moro conflict in the Philippines, which still persists, and has since deepened the fractures between Muslims, Christians, and people of other religions. The MNLF is the only recognized representative organization for the Muslims of the Philippines by the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC). By the 1970s, a paramilitary organization created by settler mayors in collusion with the Philippine Constabulary, mainly of armed Hiligaynon-speaking Christian settler residents of mainland Mindanao, called the "Ilagas" began operating in Cotabato originating from settler communities. In response, Moro volunteers with minimal weapons also group themselves with much old traditional weapons like the kris, spears and barong, such as the "Blackshirts" of Cotabato and the "Barracudas" of Lanao, began to appear and engage the "Ilagas". The Armed Forces of the Philippines were also deployed; however, their presence only seemed to create more violence and reports that the Army and the settler militia are helping each other. A Zamboangan version of the Ilagas, the "Mundo Oscuro" (Spanish for "Dark World"), was also organized in Zamboanga and Basilan.


title: Moro people

text: In 1981, internal divisions within the MNLF caused the establishment of an Islamic paramilitary breakaway organization called the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The group continued the conflict when the MNLF signed a Peace Deal with the Philippine Government in 1994. It has now become the biggest and most organized Moro armed group in Mindanao and Sulu. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is now on the final stages of the required annexe for the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro that has a set time-frame for full implementation in 2016.


title: Moro people

text: Although initialed in a 1976 ceasefire, come 1987 as a fall out of the EDSA revolution, peace talks with the MNLF picked up pace with the intention of establishing an autonomous region for Muslims in Mindanao. On 1 August 1989, through Republic Act No. 6734, known as the Organic Act, a 1989 plebiscite was held in 18 provinces in Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago and Palawan without considering the effects of continuous migration by settlers from Luzón and the Visayas. This was said to determine if the residents would still want to be part of an Autonomous Region. Out of all the Provinces and cities participating in the plebiscite, only four provinces opted to join, namely: Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Even its regional capital, Cotabato City, rejected joining the autonomous region as the settlers has now greatly outnumbered the Moro and Lumad. When before they were a majority, they have now become a minority. This still led to the creation of the ARMM, however. A second plebiscite, held a year more in 2001, managed to include Basilan (except its capital, Isabela City) and Marawi City in the autonomous region. Of the original 13 provinces agreed on the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) with the MNLF, only 5 has now been included in the present-day ARMM due to the continuous settler program of the Republic of the Philippines that started in the earnest of 1901.


title: Moro people

text: The ARMM is headed by a regional governor as the outcome of the Final Peace Agreement between the MNLF and the Philippine government in 1996 under President Fidel Ramos. The regional governor, with the regional-vice governor, act as the executive branch and are served by a Regional Cabinet, composed of regional secretaries, mirroring national government agencies of the Philippines. The ARMM has a unicameral Regional Assembly headed by a speaker. This acts as the legislative branch for the region and is responsible for regional ordinances. It is composed of three members for every congressional district. The current membership is twenty-four. Some of the Regional Assembly's acts have since been nullified by the Supreme Court on grounds that they are "unconstitutional". An example is the nullification of the creation of the Province of Shariff Kabungsuwan by the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) as this will create an extra seat in the Philippines Congress' House of Representatives, a power reserved solely for the Philippine Congress — Senate and House jointly — to decide on. Some would say, that this proves in itself the fallacy of its Autonomy granted by the Central Government during the Peace Process.


title: Moro people

text: The Moros had a history of resistance against Spanish, American, and Japanese rule for over 400 years. The armed struggle against the Spanish, Americans, Japanese and Filipinos is considered by present Moro leaders as part of the four centuries long "sovereign based conflict" of the Bangsamoro (Moro Nation). The 400-year-long resistance against the Japanese, Americans, and Spanish by the Moro persisted and morphed into their current war for independence against the Philippine state. Some Moros have formed their own separatist organisations such as the MNLF, MILF and become a members of more extreme groups such as the Abu Sayyaf (ASG) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the latest formed is Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter ( BIFF). Now, even the armed Communist Party has gained its foothold in Mindanao with large Lumad adherents.


title: Moro people

text: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front boycotted the original referendum formed by the Organic Act referendum and continued their armed struggle until present. However, it remains a partner to the peace process, with the Philippines unwilling to brand MILF as a "terrorist" group. Today, the Moro people had become marginalises and a minority in Mindanao, they are also disadvantaged than majority Christians in terms of employment and housing; they are also discriminated. Due to this, it has established escalating tensions that have contributed to the ongoing conflict between the Philippine government and the Moro people. In addition, there has been a large exodus of Moro peoples comprising the Tausūg, Samal, Bajau, Illanun and Maguindanao to Malaysia (Sabah) and Indonesia (North Kalimantan) since the 1970s, due to the illegal annexation of their land by the Catholic majority in certain regions, and armed Settler militias such as the Ilaga which has destroyed the trust between Mindanao Settlers and Moro communities. Further, Land Tenure Laws have changed the population statistics of the Bangsamoro to a significant degree and has caused the gradual displacement of the Moros from their traditional lands.


title: Moro people

text: The office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process has posted a set of frequently asked questions about the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the draft of which President Benigno Aquino III submitted to Congress leaders. The Bangsamoro Basic Law abolishes the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and establishes the new Bangsamoro political identity in its place. The law is based on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in March 2014. It is still to be implemented by the Government by Congressional mandate.


title: Moro people

text: Due to their conflict in the southern Philippines, many Moros have emigrated to the Malaysian state of Sabah since the 1970s in search of better lives because of the close proximity between Sulu islands and the state of Sabah. Most of them are illegal immigrants and live in squalor, thus the Sabah state government are working to relocate them into a proper settlement to ease management.


title: Moro people

text: In 2018, a unification gathering of all the sultans of the Sulu archipelago and representatives from all ethnic communities in the Sulu archipelago commenced in Zamboanga City, declaring themselves as the "Bangsa Sug" peoples and separating them from the "Bangsa Moro" peoples of mainland central Mindanao. They cited the complete difference in cultures and customary ways of life they have with the central Mindanao Muslims as the primary reason for their separation. They also called the government to establish a separate Philippine state, called "Bangsa Sug", from mainland Bangsa Moro or to incorporate the Sulu archipelago to whatever state is formed in the Zamboanga peninsula, if ever federalism in the Philippines is approved in the coming years.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: Sephiroth is later revealed to be the result of an experiment by the megacorporation Shinra, in which they injected him with cells from the extraterrestrial lifeform Jenova when he was still a fetus. Upon discovering this, Sephiroth becomes consumed by his rage and decides to take control of the Planet, while Cloud and the game's other protagonists attempt to stop him. Sephiroth's background and role in the story are expanded in the "Compilation of Final Fantasy VII". Additionally, he appears as a guest character in other video games and media, such as a recurring boss in the "Kingdom Hearts" series and as a playable character in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate".


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: Sephiroth has been well-received within the video game community and is highly ranked on many lists of the best video game villains and "Final Fantasy" characters based on his role in the narrative and his high challenge level.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: Sephiroth was designed by "Final Fantasy VII"s character designer Tetsuya Nomura. His name came from the Kabbalah, in which the ten sephirot on the Tree of life represent the ten attributes through which God reveals himself. His character existed from the earliest stages of development, as originally, Nomura thought that the game's plot would deal exclusively with Cloud Strife pursuing Sephiroth, who was always the game's main antagonist. Nomura wanted Sephiroth to appear early in the game, and then have the plot dealing with the protagonists following him, so that gamers would not meet the final boss until extremely late in the game. Sephiroth was initially going to be Aerith Gainsborough's sibling, as indicated by their similar hairstyles. Later, however, he was changed to Aerith's past love, whom she would remember upon meeting Cloud. This character was then changed to Zack Fair, however, and Sephiroth's prior relationship with Aerith was dropped. In early drafts of the game, Sephiroth's personality was already brutal and cruel, with a strong willed and calm ego. He was to suffer from Mako addiction, resulting in a semi-conscious state as a result of high level exposure to Mako energy. Sephiroth was also intended to manipulate Cloud into believing that he was a creation of Sephiroth's will, but this aspect of the story was later abandoned. In another excised scene, when Sephiroth's physical body is first seen in the Northern Crater, it was to be female. Yoshitaka Amano, who had handled character illustrations for previous "Final Fantasy" titles, noted a contrast between Cloud, a "young, passionate boy", and Sephiroth, a "more mature and cool" individual, as "intriguing", though not unusual as a pairing. Jason Greenberg, the only artist working on the original PC port, recalled a crash bug that happened during Sephiroth's technique. Near the end of the development cycle, many team members were done with their work and simply helped test the game as much as possible. Greenberg spent nearly 24 hours playing that one battle during development.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: Sephiroth has long platinum hair and bright cyan eyes with catlike pupils, and is depicted in a black coat decorated with metallic pauldrons. Since appearing as Safer Sephiroth in the final battle of the game, Sephiroth has had a single black wing on his back, referencing his theme music "One Winged Angel". When "" was released, the staff stated that the reason the wing was black was to suggest evil. Nomura has stated that Sephiroth was made to be a complete contrast to the game's main protagonist, Cloud, who was originally designed to have slicked-back, black hair with no spikes. His weapon, the "Masamune", which has been featured in numerous "Final Fantasy" titles, is an elongated nodachi that he learned to use during his days in SOLDIER. The Masamune is named after the famous Japanese swordsmith Goro Nyudo Masamune, whose blades are considered national treasures in Japan today. When designing Cloud and Sephiroth, Nomura was influenced by his view of their rivalry mirroring the legendary animosity between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojirō, with Cloud and Sephiroth being Musashi and Kojirō respectively. Sephiroth's look was defined as ""kakkoii"", a Japanese term combining good looks with coolness.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: Director Yoshinori Kitase believes Sephiroth's role in "Final Fantasy VII" to be one of the main reasons why the game became so popular. Nomura has called Sephiroth "the ultimate antagonist in the "Final Fantasy VII" saga. There can't be anyone else," and regards him as an enemy from a previous generation, in contrast to his "Remnants" who appear in "".


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: For "Advent Children", the film sequel to "Final Fantasy VII", scriptwriter Kazushige Nojima thought that the film's plot would be less entertaining without Sephiroth. His revival in the film was introduced in the early stages of development, but the official decision as to how to bring him back was not reached until later. Nomura originally planned to have him appear from the start, but as it took the staff two years to develop his design, the idea of his presence throughout the film was scrapped, and it was decided instead to have him only appear on the screen for a short time. Sephiroth was designed for the film in such a way so as to emphasize his other-worldliness, such as the fact that he never blinks or is seen breathing, and his voice remains always monotone and calm. In the film, the staff stated that his strength had considerably increased, to the point that he had "ascended to a new level of existence."


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: Despite initially encountering problems as to who would voice him, Nomura said that once Toshiyuki Morikawa auditioned for the role, they knew they had their actor. Morikawa was instructed by the staff to speak all of Sephiroth's dialogue as if he felt superior to every other character in the film. The voice director and Morikawa agreed to make Sephiroth's voice sound calm to the point that he believes he "cannot" lose to Cloud, suggesting to Morikawa that he may reappear at some point in the future. In the prequel "Crisis Core", Morikawa portrayed Sephiroth in a charismatic fashion as in early events Sephiroth is presented as a hero.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: For the remake of "Final Fantasy VII", Yoshinori Kitase wanted Sephiroth to have more scenes than in the original game due to his popularity while comparing him with the build of the film "Jaws". In the climax of the remake, Cloud encounters his nemesis, Sephiroth, once again. Sephiroth's words following the fight were kept as ambiguous.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: In "Final Fantasy VII", Sephiroth is the focus of two pieces of music written by series composer Nobuo Uematsu.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: His primary theme is , a piece utilizing bells, low drums, and a deep chorus, which accompanies Sephiroth's appearances throughout the game. In the final battle, plays while the player combats Sephiroth's first form, "Bizarro Sephiroth" (also known as "Reverse Sephiroth").


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: The most well-known piece is which is played during the final confrontation with Sephiroth. It contains Latin lyrics taken from sections of the Carmina Burana. In an interview featured on G4's "Game Makers" (formerly "Icons"), Uematsu revealed that this piece was designed to be a fusion of the musical styles of Russian composer Igor Stravinsky and rock musician Jimi Hendrix. The song revolves around his character, as this was what Uematsu was thinking about when writing it. Two official covers have been done of this song. The first is a different orchestration found in "Kingdom Hearts", arranged by series' composer Yoko Shimomura, the second is found in "Advent Children", which plays throughout the battle between Cloud and Sephiroth, and features the progressive metal stylings of Nobuo Uematsu's former band The Black Mages, as well as orchestral elements and new lyrics. There is also a fourth version titled "Vengeance on the World" that plays in "Crisis Core".


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: Sephiroth is the main antagonist in "Final Fantasy VII", who first appears after assassinating President Shinra. As revealed over the course of the game, Sephiroth was once the most powerful member of SOLDIER, Shinra's elite military division, who was celebrated as a heroic Invincible veteran of the Shinra-Wutai war. After the war, however, Sephiroth was sent on a mission to the village of Nibelheim, where he discovered that he was the product of a biological experiment that combined a human fetus with tissue from the extraterrestrial lifeform Jenova. Upon discovering the truth of his origins and the experiments that created him, Sephiroth develops an intense hatred for Shinra, which develops into hatred for all life. Learning that Jenova, who he comes to consider his "mother", attempted to take control of the Planet 2000 years previously, Sephiroth decides to follow in her footsteps and become a god who would rule over the Planet. He burns down the entire village and kills many, but is assumed dead after a confrontation with Cloud inside a nearby Mako reactor, although Cloud does not believe it was he who had killed Sephiroth, whose skill and might dwarfs his, and acknowledges Sephiroth most probably had won but spared him for unknown reasons. However, a few years later, Sephiroth appears once again, determined to continue with his mission.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: His plan to become a god is based upon his belief that he can merge with the Planet's Lifestream, taking control of it, and thus the Planet itself. In order to do so, he must summon Meteor, a destructive meteorite entity from outer space that can catastrophically damage the Planet. At this point, the Lifestream will flow to attempt to heal the injury, thus allowing Sephiroth to merge with it. Despite appearing multiple times throughout the game, it is revealed that Sephiroth's physical body is actually sealed in the Northern Crater, and that the manifestations seen by Cloud and his allies were parts of Jenova's body taking on his appearance, controlled by the wounded Sephiroth in the Planet core. In the game's last battle, Sephiroth takes two final forms: The first one is called Bizarro Sephiroth. This form is named "Libath Sephiroth" in the original Japanese version (リバース・セフィロス, Ribāsu Sefirosu), which means "The Core of Sephiroth" or "Sephiroth's Core" in Hebrew (ליבת ספירות). The last one is called Safer Sephiroth. This form is named "Seifa Sephiroth" in the original Japanese version (セーファ・セフィロス, Sēfa Sefirosu), which means "Final Sephiroth" or "The Last Part of Sephiroth" in Hebrew (סיפא ספירות). After his defeat, Sephiroth reappears in Cloud's mind, but is once again defeated. The Meteor still hits the planet but only the city of Midgar is destroyed as Aerith's magic executed before her death manages to reduce the damage.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: He makes several cameo appearances in the "Final Fantasy VII" prequel, "", in which he supports Shinra in their battle against the eco-terrorist organization AVALANCHE. The incident at Nibelheim is also featured in the game. The OVA "" also depicts the Nibelheim incident. Sephiroth also appears in , a CGI film set two years after "Final Fantasy VII". In the film, Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo, the "Remnants" of Sephiroth, try to reincarnate him. Although Kadaj eventually succeeds, Cloud once again defeats Sephiroth, whose body changes back to Kadaj's upon his defeat. Sephiroth is also the focus of the "On the Way to a Smile" novella "Case of the Lifestream — Black and White". Set after the end of "Final Fantasy VII" but prior to the events of "Advent Children", the story deals with Aerith and Sephiroth's journeys through the Lifestream, and Sephiroth's creation of Geostigma, a disease that infects anyone who came into contact with the tainted Lifestream. He makes a very brief appearance in "", a game set one year after "Advent Children", in which his biological mother, Lucrecia Crescent discusses the experiments which gave birth to him.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: He is one of the main characters in the "Final Fantasy VII" prequel game "", in which he and the protagonist Zack Fair go in the search of two missing SOLDIERs, Genesis Rhapsodos and Angeal Hewley, This game also depicts the Nibelheim incident, where Sephiroth appears as a boss. Executive producer Yoshinori Kitase was pleased with Sephiroth's role in "Crisis Core", feeling that he was given a "much more human side."


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: His first appearance outside "Final Fantasy VII" was as a selectable character in the fighting game "Ehrgeiz". A redesigned Sephiroth also appears in the North American and European versions of "Kingdom Hearts" as an optional boss character in Olympus Coliseum. Lance Bass voiced Sephiroth in this game, while in subsequent titles he was replaced by George Newbern. In the Japanese re-release of the game, "Final Mix", an additional scene was added in which Sephiroth fights Cloud, although the result of the fight is not revealed. Sephiroth was not included in the sequel "", as director Tetsuya Nomura could not give him a storyline related to Cloud, and he feared negative fan response if Sephiroth did not have a notable role in the story. His third appearance outside "Final Fantasy VII" is as another optional boss in "Kingdom Hearts II", where he is first encountered by the series' protagonist, Sora, and then Cloud, who is pursuing him. When Sephiroth battles Cloud, both of them disappear, with Sora believing that they went somewhere else to continue their fight. Nomura said that in this game, Sephiroth represents Cloud's dark side, in contrast to Tifa Lockhart, who represents his light side. Although Sephiroth does not appear in the prequel "Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep", he is mentioned as a hero that Zack Fair aspires to be. The staff, however, did not know if they would portray him as a being of darkness as shown in other titles. Sephiroth's fourth outside appearance is in the "Itadaki Street" games "Special" and "Portable", where he appears as an unlockable playable character. Due to Sephiroth's many appearances as a boss in the "Kingdom Hearts" series, Square Enix decided he would not return in "Kingdom Hearts III" as it would be redundant.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: Sephiroth was also the representative villain of "Final Fantasy VII" in "Dissidia Final Fantasy". He is featured in his "Final Fantasy VII" guise, while an alternative outfit features the "Safer Sephiroth" form. His fight against Cloud in the game was based on their fights from "Final Fantasy VII" and "Advent Children". Along with the rest of the "Final Fantasy VII" figures in "Dissidia", Sephiroth appears in the prequel "Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy". This game also includes a sightly altered "Final Fantasy VII" form for Sephiroth, as well as his "Kingdom Hearts" form. Sephiroth returns as a playable character opposite Cloud in the third entry, "Dissidia Final Fantasy NT". His form from "Final Fantasy VII remake" also appeared in "Final Fantasy Brave Exvius". He is featured in the rhythm game "Theatrhythm Final Fantasy" and its sequel, "", as an unlockable character, representing "Final Fantasy VII". He appears in the puzzle-platform game "LittleBigPlanet", and its sequel "LittleBigPlanet 2" as a character model; Media Molecule's Alex Evans felt "honored" that Sephiroth was allowed to appear in the games. He also appeared as a cameo in "Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate" as a weapon, which were designed as a single black wing and referencing Sephiroth's appearance during the last battle of "Final Fantasy VII". At The Game Awards 2020, Sephiroth was announced as a playable fighter in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate". Despite officially releasing on December 22, 2020, he was made available five days prior for a limited time via an event in which the player must defeat him in a "Final Fantasy"-themed stamina match.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: Sephiroth has served as a basis for several types of merchandise. These include the "Extra Knights" action figures first published by Bandai in Japan in 1997. A different model was released as part of the "Play Arts" collection, following the release of "Advent Children". At the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con International, Kanji Tashiro, Square Enix's manager of merchandise, said that this figure was one of their best-selling items. With the release of the film, Sephiroth was also included in a series of promotional material, primarily consisting of posters. Kotobukiya has included the character in numerous merchandise, including a series of cold casts based on his appearance in both the original game and the film sequel. As a result of promotional campaigns organized in Japan by Square Enix and Coca-Cola, a version of Sephiroth drawn in a super deformed style was featured in the first two volumes of a promotional collection.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: Products not connected to the release of the games or films have also been produced. These include a figure as part of the "Final Fantasy Trading Arts Vol. 1" series, a set as part of the "Square Minimum Collection" alongside Cloud, and a rare figure of "Safer Sephiroth" as part of the "Final Fantasy Creatures" series (Chromium). "Reverse Sephiroth" was also released as a normal figure in volume 2. A figure based on his appearances in the "Kingdom Hearts" games was released in the second series of the "Play Arts Kingdom Hearts" sub-line. Some replica weapon companies have produced replicas of Sephiroth's sword, the Masamune, as a katana with a stainless steel unsharpened blade. A statue at Kyoto University depicting Sephiroth was also made. An amiibo figure of Sephiroth has been confirmed at Nintendo Direct in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" in October 2021.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: On multiple occasions, numerous gaming magazines have chosen Sephiroth as one of the best villains from both the "Final Fantasy" series in specific and in all of video games in general. "GameSpy" placed him eighth in their 2014 list of top villains in games, commenting on how difficult it is to defeat him in "Final Fantasy VII". He has been named the number one villain in an episode of G4's "Filter". "PC World" placed him second in their 2008 list of most diabolical video game villains of all time. Dave Smith called him the "heavyweight champion of "Final Fantasy" villains," and praising his appearance and backstory. He would take the same spot in the list of top 25 "Final Fantasy" characters by the same site. In "IGN"s "Final Fantasy" reader's choice, also written by Smith, Sephiroth was placed fourth, with commentary focusing on his activities in the game's plot. In a retrospective on "Final Fantasy" antagonists, "GamesRadar" listed Sephiroth as their top pick, citing his developed motives and acts of evil. The official blog of "Middle East Games Con" and "GamesRadar" both also put Sephiroth in their list of the best villains in video game history. Sephiroth is ranked 19th place in "IGN"s list of Top 100 Villains from film, television, video games, and comics.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: In 2007, Sephiroth was named the 14th best character of all time in "Dengeki PlayStation"s retrospective awards feature about the original PlayStation. "UGO" placed Sephiroth 25th on their 2009 list of top Japanese RPG characters, calling him "one of the most visually striking villains of all time" while praising how different he is from previous "Final Fantasy" villains. "Famitsu" readers voted Sephiroth as the 21st most popular video game character. In the "Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition" from 2011, he was voted as the 32nd best video game character of all time, and sixth in their list of "top 50 video game villains".


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: A reader's choice poll organized by "GameSpot" placed Sephiroth as the best boss of all time, receiving five times more votes than Bowser, who finished in second place; most of the comments noted the difficulty of the final fight against Sephiroth, as well as its distinctive elements when compared to other games. "Electronic Gaming Monthly" listed him as number one in their list of top video game bosses. "Game Informer" ranked the "top-notch" fight against Sephiroth in "Final Fantasy VII" at third place on their 2008 list of top boss battles. "PlayStation Official Magazine" praised his rivalry with Cloud.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: The scene in which Sephiroth kills Aerith during "Final Fantasy VII" has also prompted much commentary. "GamesRadar" called him "the biggest cock blocker in the gaming world," as writer Shane Patterson found Aerith's character to be appealing, and due to the fact Sephiroth killed her, players were unable to use her anymore. Also referring to the scene as a shocking moment, "GameSpot" suggested that the FMV sequence of Sephiroth appearing in front of the Nibelheim fire "might be one of the most recognizable cutscenes ever to grace video games."


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: However, some game editors have criticized Sephiroth's character. For example, "IGN"s Smith has stated that "Sephiroth was certainly a good-looking fellow, but his motivations were about as clear as mud." When comparing Sephiroth with the "Final Fantasy VI" villain, Kefka Palazzo, "GamesRadar" commented that he "seems as interesting as a dead accountant painted brown," while "Screen Rant" said that "Sephiroth is an iconic character, but not the most interesting villain to emerge from the "Final Fantasy" franchise." "1UP" took a humorous approach to Sephiroth's several appearances after apparent deaths and in other games, ranking him third in their "They Is Risen" feature, which covered the ten most notorious video game resurrections. The publication noted that if the character continued to be used, Square Enix would eventually "run out of ways to remix "One-Winged Angel"." "GameSpy" editor Ryan Scott called Sephiroth the "King of Overrated Characters" during its villain feature for "Dissidia Final Fantasy", arguing that gamers were impressed by him only because of his design and by how he killed Aerith during "Final Fantasy VII". On the other hand, "AnimeFringe" called him "the most notorious villain in the entire Final Fantasy series" and "quintessential bishōnen in the eyes of many fans -- male and female," comparing him with Kefka and praising his complexity.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: Critics have also commented on Sephiroth's role in other games. "Destructoid" noted there was a message within the writing of the film regarding the characters' lives in Midgar since the story ended with Cloud saving Midgar from Sephiroth's resurrection which would threaten it again especially when the spirit of Zack Fair reminds him that he has already defeated him already. Kotaku saw the focus on the Midgar's ruins as a parallelism with psychological trauma due to how all of its survivors suffer a disease that cannot be fought with Cloud's striking weaponry on its own in contrast to his fights with the villain. In relation to "Crisis Core", "IGN" AU stated that "even Sephiroth gets his moments in the sun," praising the depth in his backstory, which would later make his boss battle more entertaining. "IGN" UK agreed, stating that his character was granted "a more human dimension" and enjoying some of the events from before his transformation into a villain. "GameSpot" agreed, finding his portrayal more likable. His boss battle was also shown in "1UP"s "25 More of the Most Badass Boss Fights Ever" in which the staff praised how the original battle from "Final Fantasy VII" was expanded in the title. The idea that there are four characters with Sephiroth's name led "VG247" to note the remake still had its own mysteries that original players would not understand while the title. "Siliconera" described this incarnation of the antagonist as haunting, due to how he often appears within Cloud's hallucinations across the plot. "Electronic Gaming Monthly" felt the remake's Sephiroth was more menacing in than in the original due to his constant threats towards Cloud.


title: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)

text: A feature published by "GamerHelp" included Sephiroth's "Kingdom Hearts"s fight in a feature titled "The Hardest Bosses of All Time", noting that regardless of the player's skill "walking away from this match unscathed" is not possible, to the point of saying that the fight was more difficult than the entirety of "Final Fantasy VII". "AnimeFringe" stated that only advanced gamers would be able to defeat "Kingdom Hearts"s Sephiroth because the player has no backup and that his "devastating attacks can kill in seconds." In 2013, "Complex" ranked Sephiroth in "Kingdom Hearts" and "Kingdom Hearts II" as respectively the seventh and fifth hardest boss fights in video games; in addition, Safer Sephiroth from "Final Fantasy VII" placed 12th. Yoshinori Kitase stated that the fight between Cloud and Sephiroth was popular enough to make Japanese gamers do a remake of it for the crossover "Dissidia Final Fantasy" and expected Western fans also emulate it. Masahiro Sakurai agreed that there are too many sword fighters after the addition of Sephiroth to "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate". He said "Well, even if it is another sword fighter, it will be fine as long as we balance them properly," implying that no one should blame him for the inclusion of sword-wielding fighters. Chris Carter of "Destructoid" and Ethan Gach of "Kotaku" both praised the addition of Sephiroth and the "Final Fantasy" music tracks.