Maxwell Institute Thanks Senator Bennett

On May 8 Andrew Skinner, executive director of the Maxwell Institute, Daniel C. Peterson, editor in chief and director of its Middle Eastern Texts Initiative, and Ed Snow, Development Director, met with U.S. Senator Bob Bennett and leaders of the Library of Congress in Washington DC to thank the senator for helping to secure federal funding for METI and to present him with several volumes of METI publications. Beginning in 2005, Senator Bennett worked to obtain $750,000 from the Library of Congress's budget to go toward METI publications, in addition to requesting $250,000 more for 2008.

METI, founded in 1992 and now part of the Maxwell Institute, is dedicated to finding, translating, and publishing important works from the ancient Middle East, including manuscripts from Islamic, Jewish, and early Christian authors on both intellectual and spiritual subjects. Peterson says that the project helps to express respect for these great, and often undervalued, traditions. To date, 13 volumes have been published.

Senator Bennett likewise noted the benefit of these publications, especially to U.S. relationships with the Arab world. "Officials from Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait have publicly praised and recognized BYU's effort to bring these great scientific, philosophical, and religious treasures of the Islamic world forward," Bennett remarked, "and I am happy to lend my support."¹

1.   As quoted in Suzanne Struglinski, "Arabic texts translated—thanks to Bennett," Deseret Morning News, 9 May 2007.