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91-673: Kappa Alpha Theta is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), an umbrella organization that encompasses 26 social sororities found throughout North America. The organization's own headquarters are located in Indianapolis , Indiana. The Alpha chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta was founded at Indiana Asbury University, now DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana , on January 27, 1870. The university began admitting women in 1867 after 30 years of

182-414: A USA Today / CBS / Gallup poll recorded her approval rating at 82 percent and disapproval at 13 percent. That places Bush as one of the most popular first ladies. Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said, "She is more popular, and more welcome, in many parts of the country than the president ... In races where the moderates are in the most trouble, Laura Bush is the one who can do

273-492: A Boston meeting, with the intention to meet again in 1893. In 1902, Alpha Phi invited Pi Beta Phi , Kappa Alpha Theta , Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma , Gamma Phi Beta , Delta Delta Delta , Alpha Chi Omega , and Chi Omega to a conference in Chicago on May 24 to set standards for collegiate sororities. Alpha Chi Omega and Chi Omega were unable to attend and joined the following year. The remaining seven groups met and

364-769: A Master of Science degree in Library Science from the University of Texas at Austin . She was soon employed as a librarian at the Kashmere Gardens Branch at the Houston Public Library . The following year, she moved back to Austin and took another job as a librarian in the Austin Independent School District school Dawson Elementary until 1977. She reflected on her employment experiences to

455-470: A stop sign and struck another car, killing its driver. The victim was her close friend and classmate Michael Dutton Douglas. By some accounts, Douglas had been Bush's boyfriend at one time, but she stated that he was not her boyfriend at that time but rather a very close friend. Bush and her passenger, both 17, were treated for minor injuries. According to the accident report released by the city of Midland in 2000, in response to an open-records request, she

546-500: A July 2004 interview, Teresa Heinz , wife of Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry , said, "Well, you know, I don't know Laura Bush. But she seems to be calm, and she has a sparkle in her eye, which is good. But I don't know that she's ever had a real job—I mean, since she's been grown up." Heinz later apologized for the remark, stating that she had forgotten that Laura Bush was a teacher and librarian prior to her marriage. Bush stated that she forgave her while insisting her apology

637-550: A campaign speech." She soon relented and gave her first stump speech for him in 1978 on the courthouse steps in Muleshoe, Texas . After narrowly winning the primary , he lost the general election. Bush attended the inauguration of her father-in-law George H. W. Bush as Ronald Reagan 's vice-president in January 1981, after Reagan won the 1980 United States presidential election . She credited her father-in-law's election to

728-810: A change of title from The Journal to The Kappa Alpha Theta Magazine and a change of publication schedule (from monthly to quarterly). The Kappa Alpha Theta Magazine currently is published in April, June, September, and December of each year. In 1887, Theta became an international organization with the establishment of the Sigma chapter at the University of Toronto . This became the first Canadian women's fraternity. G. William Domhoff , writing in Who Rules America? , listed Kappa Alpha Theta as one of "the four or five sororities with nationwide prestige" in

819-504: A constitution, planned rituals, designed a badge, and sought out women on campus to become members. Along with Hannah Fitch and Bettie Tipton, the first initiation was held in secret on January 27, 1870, establishing the Alpha chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. Theta's grand convention voted to establish a magazine in 1885 and to place its editorship with Kappa chapter at Kansas. In the intervening years, Kappa Alpha Theta's magazine has undergone

910-662: A delegate board with at least one representative from each of its 18 senior members. That year, the Congress also began plans for a centralized headquarters to coordinate and streamline interactions with the separate sororities. Shortly before its merger with the NPC, the Association of Educational Sororities (AES) was part of a larger multi-panhellenic association, the Council of Affiliated Panhellenics. Created in 1941, it included

1001-633: A group of children in 2003, saying, "I worked as a teacher and librarian and I learned how important reading is in school and in life." Bush met her husband in July 1977 when mutual friends Joe and Jan O'Neill invited them to a backyard barbecue at their home. He proposed to her at the end of September and they were married on November 5 of that year, the day after her 31st birthday, at the First United Methodist Church in Midland,

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1092-425: A job as a second grade teacher. After attaining her master's degree in library science at the University of Texas at Austin , she was employed as a librarian. Bush met her future husband, George W. Bush, in 1977, and they were married later that year. The couple had twin daughters in 1981. Bush's political involvement began during her marriage. She campaigned with her husband during his unsuccessful 1978 run for

1183-447: A law enforcement investigation before their school could begin its own investigation. In 2016, collegiate members began discussing membership offers for transgender women , which was supported by some national organizations with changes to their national policies; however, some national organizations delayed membership offers for trans women due to fears about Title IX exemption status, which caused dissent in local chapters. Though

1274-501: A little red dress can save lives." She has undertaken a signature personal element of traveling around the country and talking to women at hospital and community events featuring the experiences of women who live, or had lived, with the condition. This outreach was credited with directly saving the life of at least one woman who went to the hospital after experiencing symptoms of a heart attack after hearing her message. With her predecessor, former First Lady Nancy Reagan , Bush dedicated

1365-616: A lot of difficult challenges right now in the United States ;... All of those decisions that the President has to make surrounding each one of these very difficult challenges are hard. They're hard decisions to make. And of course some people are unhappy about what some of those decisions are. But I think people know that he is doing what he thinks is right for the United States, that he's doing what he – especially in

1456-428: A male-only student body. However, women were excluded from male-only clubs and societies. In response to the lack of women's organizations, the fraternity's founding members established the first Greek letter women's organization. The Founders were: Bettie Locke developed the idea for a Greek letter women's society through the encouragement of her father, a professor at Indiana Asbury and a member of Beta Theta Pi , and

1547-601: A pediatric reading program; and Ready to Read, an early childhood educational program. She raised money for public libraries through her establishment of the Texas Book Festival , in 1995. She established the First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative, which encouraged families to read together. Bush further established "Rainbow Rooms" across the state, in an effort to provide emergency services for neglected or abused children. Through this, she promoted

1638-441: A policy explicitly open to trans and non-binary individuals, and sororities open to anyone who identifies as a woman include: Alpha Chi Omega , Alpha Delta Pi , Alpha Epsilon Phi , Alpha Sigma Tau , Chi Omega , Delta Gamma , Gamma Phi Beta , Kappa Alpha Theta , Kappa Delta , Kappa Kappa Gamma , Phi Sigma Sigma , Sigma Sigma Sigma , and Theta Phi Alpha . Sororities open to anyone who identifies and lives as

1729-487: A president to deliver the weekly presidential radio address. She used the opportunity to discuss the plight of women in Afghanistan leading up to the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan , saying "The brutal oppression of women is a central goal of the terrorists." Her husband was originally to give the address but he felt that she should do it; she later recalled, "At that moment, it was not that I found my voice. Instead, it

1820-468: A private group chat among friends in a December 2020 incident that did not surface until two years later. In February 2022, the chapter at Southern Methodist University (SMU) was placed on a two-year suspension by the university for pressuring pledges to drink large amounts of alcohol and other hazing activities that endangered their safety and mental health. The chapter was sanctioned for a similar violation in 2020. After being suspended in 2022, members of

1911-713: A result of her many trips abroad where she witnessed how literacy benefited children in poorer nations. On July 28, 2008, she visited Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock, North Carolina , where she met with superintendent Connie Backlund and the Friends of Carl Sandburg Home's President Linda Holt as well as various students from Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County, North Carolina . On October 3, 2008, she visited Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum where she praised her works such as Farmer Boy , These Happy Golden Years and Little House on

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2002-501: A single formal event, Laura worked for women's and children's causes including health, education, and literacy . She implemented four major initiatives: Take Time For Kids, an awareness campaign to educate parents and caregivers on parenting; family literacy, through cooperation with the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy , she urged Texas communities to establish family literacy programs; Reach Out and Read,

2093-517: A symbolic silver fruit basket instead to represent their relationship and fondness for her. Upon discovering that there were no Greek letter fraternities for women in existence (only literary societies for women existed at the time), Locke decided to create her own Greek letter fraternity for women. Kappa Alpha Theta's ritual, organizational structure, badge, and coat of arms were influenced by those of Beta Theta Pi and Phi Gamma Delta due to her familial connections. Locke and her friend Alice Allen wrote

2184-424: A woman include: Alpha Gamma Delta , Alpha Omicron Pi , Alpha Xi Delta , Delta Delta Delta , Pi Beta Phi , Sigma Delta Tau , and Sigma Kappa , while Zeta Tau Alpha specifies that the individual must consistently identify and live as a woman. A Panhellenic Council consists of executive board members at each university or college. Each institution holds different executive positions based on its size and

2275-569: Is also credited with creating a national initiative called "Ready to Read, Ready to Learn", which promotes reading at a young age. To promote American patriotic heritage in schools, she helped launch the National Anthem Project . In 2006, Bush and media executives worked together to provide a $ 500,000 grant for school libraries along the Gulf Coast which had been devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Immediately following

2366-455: Is an American educator who was the first lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009 as the wife of George W. Bush , the 43rd president of the United States. Bush was previously the first lady of Texas from 1995 to 2000 when her husband was governor. Born in Midland, Texas , Bush graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in education , and took

2457-455: Is of English, French, and Swiss ancestry. Her father was a house builder and later successful real estate developer, while her mother worked as the bookkeeper for her father's business. Early on, her parents encouraged her to read, leading to what would become her love of reading. She said, "I learned [how important reading is] at home from my mother. When I was a little girl, my mother would read stories to me. I have loved books and going to

2548-674: Is treated like a rock star on the campaign trail – with local Republicans lining up for photographs and autographs – as she criss-crosses the country to help candidates." Bush relied on a strategy of praising the Republican candidate for their achievements and attending events alongside them. In September 2008, Bush spoke during the first night of the 2008 Republican National Convention , her joint appearance with Cindy McCain geared toward raising hurricane relief funds for victims of Hurricane Gustav . Laura Bush's approval ratings have consistently ranked very high. In January 2006,

2639-651: The Beta Sigma chapter at Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas . Her daughters Barbara and Jenna Bush were members at Yale University and the University of Texas at Austin , respectively. Tory Burch, an American fashion designer, businesswoman, and philanthropist was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta at the University of Pennsylvania , an Ivy League university in Philadelphia . Amy Holmes, an American journalist and political commentator,

2730-629: The Library of Congress to launch the annual National Book Festival . More than 60 organizations that promote reading, literacy, and libraries—including the National Basketball Association participated. Bush served as Honorary Chair from 2001 to 2008. In January 2002, Bush testified before the Senate Committee on Education, asking for higher teachers' salaries and better training for Head Start programs. She

2821-657: The September 11 attacks , Bush was taken to inside the White House and placed in an underground bunker, later being met by her husband, who had returned to Washington from Florida. Two weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Bush inaugurated a music concert at the Kennedy Center , organized to raise funds for families of the victims. Though she received applause, she returned the compliment to members of

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2912-532: The September 11, 2001 attacks , Bush spoke regarding America's children: "We need to reassure our children that they are safe in their homes and schools. We need to reassure them that many people love them and care for them, and that while there are some bad people in the world, there are many more good people." The following day, she composed open letters to America's families, focusing on elementary and middle school students, which she distributed through state education officials. She took an interest in mitigating

3003-630: The United States and Canada . Panhellenic ( lit.   ' all-Greek ' ) refers to the group's members being autonomous social Greek-letter societies of college women and alumnae . The National Panhellenic Conference provides guidelines and resources for its members and serves as a national voice on contemporary issues of sorority life. Founded in 1902, the NPC is one of the oldest and largest women's membership organizations, representing more than 4 million women at over 650 college and university campuses and 4,600 local alumnae chapters in

3094-522: The United States Congress , and later for his successful Texas gubernatorial campaign. As First Lady of Texas, Bush implemented many initiatives focused on health, education, and literacy . In 1999–2000, she aided her husband in campaigning for the presidency in a number of ways, such as delivering a keynote address at the 2000 Republican National Convention , which gained her national attention. She became first lady after her husband

3185-405: The war on terror , what he thinks he is obligated to do for the people in the United States, and that is to protect them ... When his polls were really high they weren't on the front page." During the January 2005 second inauguration ceremonies for her husband, Laura Bush was looked highly upon by People magazine, The Washington Post , and others for her elegance and fashion sense. At

3276-469: The 1940s many teachers' colleges had begun to add liberal arts programs, and vice versa, which led to difficulties in the organizations functioning separately. On November 12, 1947, at a conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado , the NPC considered and granted associate membership "with reservations" to the six AES sororities. The AES was holding its biennial meeting when it was notified of

3367-631: The 2010s, sorority members and outside observers noticed a shift in sorority culture; though sororities began as feminist organizations, emphasis during the mid-1900s on social reputations and exclusionary recruitment policies (such as a refusal to recruit Jewish and African-American women) led to a reputation for following cultural hegemony and being made up of upper-class white women. Though such issues continue to persist in various ways, sorority and anti-sorority women alike observed sororities becoming more ethnically diverse and moving away from traditional power structures towards their feminist roots. In

3458-519: The 2010s, sorority members began attempts to change how sororities work from within. In November 2015, eight NPC members ( Alpha Phi , Alpha Chi Omega , Phi Mu , Alpha Gamma Delta , Sigma Delta Tau , Delta Phi Epsilon , Delta Gamma , and Gamma Phi Beta ) broke ranks from the NPC to withdraw their support for the Safe Campus Act , a controversial bill that would have required campus sexual assault victims to report to police and submit to

3549-606: The AES, NPC, and Professional Panhellenic Association as members. Members of Sigma Sigma Sigma and Alpha Sigma Alpha organized the Association of Pedagogical Sororities on July 10, 1915. Its members were primarily sororities located on state campuses mainly attended by women entering the educational field. In 1917, Pi Kappa Sigma and Delta Sigma Epsilon joined the association, followed by Theta Sigma Upsilon in 1925, Alpha Sigma Tau in 1926, and Pi Delta Theta in 1931. At

3640-658: The Adopt-a-Caseworker Program to provide support for Child Protective Services . She used her position to advocate Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer awareness as well. Her husband announced his campaign for President of the United States in mid-1999, something that she agreed to. She did say, however, that she had never dreamed that he would run for office. The Bush campaign worked to assure voters that as First Lady, she would not seek to emulate then-First Lady Hillary Clinton , who had faced controversy for leading several policy initiatives from within

3731-473: The Cure organizations. She represented the United States during her foreign trips, which tended to focus on HIV/AIDS and malaria awareness. She is the oldest living former First Lady, following the death of Rosalynn Carter in 2023. Laura Lane Welch was born on November 4, 1946, at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, Texas , the only child of Harold Bruce Welch and Jenna Louise ( née Hawkins) Welch. She

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3822-730: The First Ladies Red Dress Collection at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in May 2005. It is an exhibit containing red suits worn by former First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson , Betty Ford , Rosalynn Carter , Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush , Hillary Clinton , and Laura Bush meant to raise awareness by highlighting America's first ladies. She has participated in fashion shows displaying red dresses worn on celebrities as well. Bush's mother, Jenna Welch,

3913-577: The NPC confines itself to recommendations and advice and acts as a court of final appeal in any college Panhellenic disputes. One of its services is providing advisors for sororities. Early histories of sororities contain accounts of rushing and pledging agreements or compacts among sororities on various campuses, and many stories of cooperation and mutual assistance. However, no actual Panhellenic organization existed and no uniform practices were observed. The NPC's origin can be traced to 1891, when Kappa Kappa Gamma invited all seven existing sororities to

4004-452: The NPC created a gender identity study group to examine potential legal consequences, they concluded that the legal precedents were "incomplete, inconclusive, and inconsistent," and did not enact official policy or recommendations. By 2021, most national organizations had released political statements on racial and social equity and inclusion, while also developing membership policies regarding gender identity. Delta Phi Epsilon developed

4095-495: The NPC decision and, at that meeting, "completed the necessary business and took formal action to dissolve the Association". The NPC admitted five other sororities at the same time: Alpha Epsilon Phi , Delta Phi Epsilon , Phi Sigma Sigma , Sigma Delta Tau , and Theta Phi Alpha . In December 1951, all 11 of these sororities became full NPC members. Since that time, three AES members have merged with other NPC groups, leaving Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, and Sigma Sigma Sigma as

4186-403: The NPC's relationship with it. The basic positions at each institution are President, VP of Communications, VP of Finance, VP of Philanthropy and Community Service, VP of Programming, VP of Recruitment, VP of Scholarship, and VP of Judicial. The number of positions is based on the number of NPC sororities at each institution. Along with the delegates each being a representative from their sorority,

4277-766: The Netherlands, Ireland, Jamaica, and other countries. The sorority publicly apologized for the event. In 2016, the 137-year old chapter at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan was suspended by the university for underage drinking and hazing. The chapter was disbanded by the national organization a few weeks later for violating the suspension. In 2018, chapters at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi and Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina were closed for failure to meet quota. There

4368-488: The Prairie , the last of which she had felt an association with as a child. During the same Laura Ingalls Wilder's estate visit, she said that she read her books to her daughters and gave the writer Save America's Treasures grant. On September 11, 2001, Bush had been hosting her in-laws George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush at the White House and was scheduled to give a testimony to Congress on education. Instead, during

4459-494: The Theta Foundation also supports the sorority's educational programs as well as its international philanthropy, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) . Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA's) are community volunteers who serve as the voice for abused and neglected foster care children who are going through the court system. CASA's are appointed by a judge and their purpose is to ensure all legal actions made are in

4550-413: The U.S. and Canada. Each year, NPC-affiliated collegians and alumnae donate more than $ 5 million to causes, provide $ 2.8 million in scholarships to women, and volunteer 500,000 hours in their communities. The organization is a conference , not a congress , as it enacts no legislation and only regulates its own meetings. Other than basic agreements which its member groups must unanimously vote to follow,

4641-447: The United States and Canada. Alumnae chapters are alumnae groups that have been granted charters from Grand Council. The following is a list of the chapters of Kappa Alpha Theta: The Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation was founded in 1960 and is the philanthropic arm of the organization. The Theta Foundation awards annual undergraduate and graduate scholarships to its members, awarding more than $ 1.1 million per year. In addition to scholarships,

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4732-444: The White House despite being unelected. When asked who she would be like out of the past First Ladies, she insisted it would be herself. In July, she delivered a keynote address to the delegates at the 2000 Republican National Convention, which put her on the national stage. In December 2000, her husband resigned as Governor of Texas to prepare for his inauguration as President of the United States in January 2001. As First Lady, Bush

4823-401: The audience and added that although the event was tragic, Americans had deepened their appreciation "of life itself, how fragile it can be, what a gift it is and how much we need each other". Senator Ted Kennedy , who introduced Bush at the event, praised her and said he knew his late brother, President John F. Kennedy , would also be proud of her. Bush believes the September 11 attacks ignited

4914-504: The building or the buildings falling." Later in her tenure, she was honored by the United Nations, as the body named her honorary ambassador for the United Nations' Decade of Literacy. In this position, she announced that she would host a Conference on Global Literacy. The conference, held in September 2006, encouraged a constant effort to promote literacy and highlighted many successful literacy programs. She coordinated this as

5005-474: The campaign trail, including in battleground states such as Florida. She advocated for his re-election in a speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention , and was credited with having raised $ 15 million for her husband's campaign as well as the Republican Party while still succeeding in keeping a separate schedule that allowed for her to tend to the traditional duties she had as First Lady. In

5096-439: The chapter an additional year because she did not like its similarities to the sorority. Parents of "The Society" members hired lawyers on behalf of their daughters to fight to keep the organization until the official return of Kappa Alpha Theta at SMU. National Panhellenic Conference The National Panhellenic Conference ( NPC ) is an umbrella organization for 26 national and international women's sororities throughout

5187-520: The chapter at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati was temporarily suspended for hazing . The pledges were forced to endure several demeaning tasks, one of which included crawling up the steps of the sorority house for the amusement of their big sisters. In 2000, the chapter at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida was shut down after a drinking party sent newly pledged members to

5278-512: The chapter created an off-campus based organization known as "The Society" to continue to recruit new members and uphold the chapter's legacy. SMU officials stated "The Society" was another violation of the Student Code of Conduct and worked to disband the organization and penalize fraternities seen socializing with them. Also the CEO of Kappa Alpha Theta, Jennifer Schmaltz, delayed the return of

5369-408: The child's best interest. In order to directly volunteer at CASA you must be 21 years of age or older. Some notable alumni of Kappa Alpha Theta include Agnes de Mille , Laura Bush , Barbara Bush , Jenna Bush , Tory Burch , Melinda French Gates , Amy Holmes , Sheryl Crow , Gretchen Whitmer , Kerri Strug , Rue McClanahan , Amy Grant , and Jennifer Cook O'Toole . Laura Bush was a member of

5460-472: The compound is where Bush family gatherings have been held for nearly 100 years. Bush became the First Lady of Texas when her husband was elected as the Governor of Texas and served as first lady of that state from January 17, 1995, to December 21, 2000. When asked about her interest in politics, she responded "It doesn't drive me." Though during her years in the Governor's Mansion , she did not hold

5551-472: The condition. She serves in the honorary position of ambassador for the program leading the federal government's effort to give women a "wake up call" about the risk of heart disease. She commented on the disease: "Like many women, I assumed heart disease was a man's disease and cancer was what we would fear the most. Yet heart disease kills more women in our country than all forms of cancer combined. When it comes to heart disease, education, prevention, and even

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5642-509: The country in 2002 for that year's midterm elections, attending and hosting fundraisers as well as giving speeches. Opponents deemed this as the Bush administration "working against women's rights issues and using women to do their dirty work" and partly a test for Bush on how well she could campaign for her husband in the impending two years when he sought re-election. During the 2004 election cycle, Bush made joint appearances with her husband on

5733-406: The emotional effects of the attacks on children, particularly the disturbing images repeatedly replayed on television. On the one-year anniversary, she encouraged parents to instead read to their children, and perhaps light a candle in memoriam, saying, "Don't let your children see the images, especially on September 11, when you know it'll probably be on television again and again – the plane hitting

5824-553: The executive board includes a member from each sorority as well. Throughout its history the NPC Executive Board has been led by a chairman . In 2018 the NPC Board of Directors voted to change its governance model. As of 2021, members rotate onto the board in the order their organization joined the NPC, but the chairman is now elected. Laura Bush Laura Lane Bush ( née Welch ; born November 4, 1946)

5915-489: The formation of group-specific sororities which attempted to provide the same social and academic outlets to groups who were otherwise excluded from membership. These groups included the first Black Greek letter organizations . By 1922, the NPC (at the time named the National Panhellenic Congress) had an executive committee consisting of a chairman, secretary, and treasurer; a publicity board; and

6006-549: The harshest criticism that could be bestowed upon her was that she was boring. She disagreed with Fox News ' Chris Wallace in 2006 when Wallace asked why the American people were beginning to lose confidence in President Bush, saying, "Well, I don't think they are. And I don't really believe those polls. I travel around the country, I see people, I see their response to my husband, I see their response to me. There are

6097-613: The hospital. One member passed out and was placed on a respirator that night. In 2008, the chapter at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York was suspended for four years after an alcohol-hazing related incident. In 2014, the chapter at Columbia University in New York City was under national scrutiny after hosting a racially and ethnically insensitive event that went viral. Some of the costumes worn by sorority members were based on stereotypes meant to represent Mexico, Japan,

6188-451: The inauguration she wore a winter white cashmere dress and matching coat designed by Oscar de la Renta . Following the inauguration were the inaugural galas, to which Bush wore a pale, aqua lace gown, sprinkled with crystals, with long sleeves in a silver blue mist. The tulle gown was also designed for her by de la Renta. According to The Washington Post , "[I]t made her look radiant and glamorous." During her husband's second term , Bush

6279-600: The interest in the way Afghan women were treated. Another of her signature issues were those relating to the health and well-being of women. She established the Women's Health and Wellness Initiative and became involved with two major campaigns. Bush first became involved with The Heart Truth awareness campaign in 2003. It is an organization established by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to raise awareness about heart disease in women, and how to prevent

6370-487: The library ever since. In the summer, I liked to spend afternoons reading in the library. I enjoyed the Little House on the Prairie and Little Women books, and many others ... Reading gives you enjoyment throughout your life." Bush has also credited her second grade teacher, Charlene Gnagy, for inspiring her interest in education. On the night of November 6, 1963, two days after her 17th birthday, Laura Bush ran

6461-407: The members of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) at Indiana Asbury, which included her brother. Initially, the collegiate men of FIJI offered Locke their badge as a token of their friendship, but voted against initiating her as a member. Locke refused to wear the badge as she did not know the secrets and purposes the badge represented, since she was unable to become a member. Ultimately, the fraternity gifted her

6552-409: The mid-1960s. Kappa Alpha Theta's colors are black and gold . The official symbols are both the kite and twin stars, while the official flower is the black and gold pansy . The fraternity does not recognize an official stone. The badge is a black and gold kite with a white chevron in the middle. Kappa Alpha Theta has more than 143 active college chapters and more than 212 alumnae chapters across

6643-419: The most good." Jude Ellison Sady Doyle reasoned that Bush was hard to dislike due to her adopting "the least partisan causes" such as literacy and breast cancer, which would attract the support of most Americans and her coming off as a "mild, polite, ordinary woman who might go to church with your mother, or organize suburban potlucks". Doyle furthered that her statements were never enough to offend others and

6734-459: The next decade, with Alpha Xi Delta in 1904, Alpha Omicron Pi and Sigma Kappa in 1905, Alpha Delta Pi and Alpha Gamma Delta and Zeta Tau Alpha in 1909, Delta Zeta in 1910, Phi Mu in 1911, and Kappa Delta in 1912. No new members were admitted for the next few decades. Throughout its early years, NPC members were often racially and religiously segregated and rarely admitted Jewish , Catholic , or ethnic minority members, which led to

6825-604: The person he is today." Bush traveled to Kuwait in April 1993, accompanying her in-laws as well as brothers-in-law Jeb and Marvin Bush after former president Bush was invited to return to the Middle East for the first time since his presidency. Several times a year, Bush and her husband travel to their sprawling family estate, the Bush compound , better known as Walker's Point. Located in Kennebunkport , Maine ,

6916-548: The remaining former AES members. From the 1940s to the 1960s, various smaller organizations merged into larger ones. On some campuses with two different chapters from merged sororities, a third sorority would organize on the campus to absorb the smaller sorority's former chapter. By the end of the 1960s and the civil rights movement , NPC sororities eliminated official policies that prevented minority members from joining, although diversity in Greek life remained an issue. As of

7007-621: The same church in which she had been baptized . The couple honeymooned in Cozumel , Mexico. George W. Bush detailed his choice to marry Laura as the "best decision of [his] life". Laura, an only child, said she gained "brothers and sisters and wonderful in-laws" who all accepted her after she wed George W. Bush. The year after their marriage, the couple began campaigning for George W. Bush's 1978 Congressional candidacy. According to George Bush, when he asked her to marry him, she had said, "Yes. But only if you promise me that I'll never have to make

7098-425: The session resulted in the organization of the first interfraternity association and the first intergroup organization on college campuses. The first few meetings resulted in several mutual agreements, especially regarding pledging. Up to this time, no guidelines had been set, and women could be pledged to groups before enrolling in college and belong to more than one group. Many of the current members joined through

7189-466: The third biennial conference, the name of the association was changed to the Association of Educational Sororities. Later, the word Educational was changed to Education . From 1915 through 1926, the NPC and AES operated chapters in the same colleges and universities. In 1926, the NPC and AES made an agreement "defining fields of activities of each panhellenic". There was competition between NPC and AES sororities, and dual memberships were often held. By

7280-767: The vice presidency with giving her and her husband national exposure. The Bushes had tried to conceive for three years, but pregnancy did not happen easily. On November 25, 1981, Laura Bush gave birth to fraternal twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna . The twins were born five weeks early by an emergency Caesarean section in Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas , as Laura had developed life-threatening pre-eclampsia (toxemia). George W. Bush credited his wife with his decision to stop drinking in 1986. She reflected that she thought her husband "was drinking too much" amid her knowing it

7371-594: The work of the Komen Foundation ... more women and men are beating breast cancer and beating the odds." She used her position to gain international support for the foundation through the Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research of the Americas, an initiative that unites experts from the United States, Brazil , Costa Rica and Mexico. In November 2001, she became the first person other than

7462-467: Was inaugurated as president on January 20, 2001. Polled by The Gallup Organization as one of the most popular first ladies, Bush was involved in national and global concerns during her tenure. She continued to advance her trademark interests of education and literacy by establishing the annual National Book Festival in 2001. She encouraged education on a worldwide scale. She also advanced women's causes through The Heart Truth and Susan G. Komen for

7553-569: Was a great deal of opposition, since members felt they were being unfairly punished, simply for being less popular than other National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities on campus, and not for risk management or academic issues. In February 2022, the members of the Eta Mu chapter at Occidental College in Los Angeles voted to disband the chapter following a controversy with a member, who reportedly sent anti-Asian and anti-Black messages in

7644-571: Was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta . She graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. After graduating from SMU, she began her career as a school teacher at Longfellow Elementary School in the Dallas Independent School District . She then taught for three years at John F. Kennedy Elementary School, a Houston Independent School District school in Houston , until 1972. In 1973, Bush attained

7735-698: Was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta at Princeton University . Sheryl Crow was a member at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri . Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan's current governor, was a Theta at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan . Amy Grant, an American singer, was a member of the Alpha Eta chapter at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee . The first women admitted to Phi Beta Kappa honor society were Thetas. In 2000,

7826-405: Was as if my voice found me." Her words summarized one of the goals and moral rationales of the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and it became one of the more famous speeches of his administration. In May 2002, she made a speech to the people of Afghanistan through Radio Liberty . In March 2005, she made the first of three trips to that country as First Lady. Bush campaigned for Republicans around

7917-458: Was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 78. She endured surgery and had no further signs of cancer. Laura Bush has become a breast cancer activist on her mother's behalf through her involvement in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure . She applauded the foundation's efforts in eliminating cancer and said, "A few short years ago, a diagnosis of breast cancer left little hope of recovery. But thanks to

8008-480: Was involved in issues of concern to children and women, both nationally and internationally. Her major initiatives included education and women's health. Early into the administration, Bush made it known that she would focus much of her attention on education. This included recruiting highly qualified teachers to ensure that young children would be taught well. She also focused on early child development. In 2001, to promote reading and education, she partnered with

8099-611: Was not charged in the incident. In 2000 Laura Bush's spokesman said, "It was a very tragic accident that deeply affected the families and was very painful for all involved, including the community at large." In her book Spoken from the Heart , she said that the crash caused her to lose her faith "for many, many years". She attended James Bowie Elementary School, San Jacinto Junior High School, and Robert E. Lee High School in Midland. She graduated from Lee in 1964 and went on to attend Southern Methodist University in Dallas where she

8190-411: Was not his desired way of living. Approaching him, she related that her father had been alcoholic and it was not a pattern she wished to repeat in their family. She is also credited with having a stabilizing effect on his private life. According to People magazine reporter Jane Simms Podesta, "She is the steel in his back. She is a civilizing influence on him. I think she built him, in many ways, into

8281-429: Was unnecessary, citing her understanding of the "trick questions" asked by the media. Bush was a participant in the 2006 midterm elections, beginning her campaigning in April. Though her poll numbers had decreased from an 80% approval rating, they still superseded that of President Bush, whose approval rating was only praised by a third of Americans. Ed Henry of CNN noted Bush's popularity, writing, "The first lady

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