Saudis contributed financially to controversial Middle East Institute of Columbia University

Saudi Arabia has channeled tens of thousands of dollars into the "outreach" programs of the Middle East Institute of Columbia University, New York, the newspaper "New York Sun" reports. Since 2002, the government-owned Saudi Aramco has apparently given the institute annual grants of US$ 15,000 for unspecified outreach activities. The institute's outreach activities have included a 15-week teacher-training course on Middle East politics led by Columbia faculty members and graduate students. A Columbia spokeswoman, Susan Brown, denied the money from Saudi Aramco was used to finance the program that the institute coordinated for the city's Department of Education. Rather, she said, the program was supported through federal funds. The institute must demonstrate a certain level of community outreach activity to qualify for federal funds. Columbia University is under fire as some of the staff of the Institute have allegedly intimidated Jewish students. Some politicians have already urged that the Institute no longer accept the Saudi donations.