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US to Keep Funding Duke-UNC Middle East Studies Program

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Education says it plans to continue
   funding a Middle East studies program at the University of North
   Carolina and Duke University that it had accused of advancing
   "ideological priorities."

   The Washington Post reports the Thursday announcement comes weeks after
   the department ordered the Duke-UNC consortium to change its offerings
   or risk losing a $235,000 federal grant.
   The grant is one of many awarded through the National Resource Center
   program, which supports language and culture initiatives that prepare
   students for diplomatic and national security careers.
   The department said the consortium overly emphasized understanding
   positive aspects of Islam, in comparison to other religions. The school
   defended the program against the claims, which some said amounted to
   ideological harassment.

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