BYU still plans to send students to its Jerusalem center

PROVO — Despite renewed violence in the Mideast, Brigham Young University still is planning to send students to its Center for Near Eastern Studies in Jerusalem in the fall.

"We are, however, of course, closely monitoring the situation," spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said Monday.

The university scaled back activities after fighting began in 2000, and stopped sending students to the center in 2001.

It announced on June 8 that it would resume sending students the center, and the deadline for applications was July 7.

Forty-four students have been selected from more than 125 applicants, and they will receive their acceptance letters in the mail this week, Jenkins said.

Previous programs brought as many as 300 students at a time to the center.

The center has remained open since students left, hosting visitors for concerts, workshops and tours.

Students returning in the fall are scheduled to study biblical and historical sites in Israel, ancient and modern Near Eastern history, modern Near Eastern languages and the Old and New Testaments.