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Sam Penrod Reporting BYU students who were planning to go to the Middle East to study this fall got some bad news today; BYU announced it will not re-open its Jerusalem Center as planned.
Just six weeks ago, BYU announced it was sending students back to Israel for the first time in five years. But days later, the violence in the Middle East began and today BYU announced the center won't be opening after all.
Situated near the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, the BYU Jerusalem Center has offered students a rare opportunity to study in one of the most historical cities of the world. But after more than two weeks of watching the conflict in Northern Israel and Lebanon, University officials decided sending students back is too dangerous.
Michael Smart, BYU Spokesperson: "Because of escalating violence in the region, the university has made the decision to not send students to the Jerusalem Center this fall."
In the fall of 2000, BYU sent home students and did not allow any to return, after the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians escalated. But that situation had calmed down enough in recent months that BYU opened applications for 44 students to attend this fall. 132 students applied.
Michael Smart, BYU Spokesperson: "No one was notified they had been accepted yet, so they applicants were notified today the program will not resume and all application fees will be refunded."
BYU will keep a small staff at the center, which opened back in 1987. The university says those who remain will maintain the campus and host visitors until the situation in the Middle East becomes safe again for students to return.
Michael Smart, BYU Spokesperson: "The university will evaluate the safety of travel to the region and the safety of travel within the Holy Land, because field trips are an important component to this educational experience."
