how on earth this was all paid for
~~~
IIRC a Saudi is thought to have paid for it,,,
Fred mite have that info...
http://adamash.blogspot.com/2006/01/ny-times-interviews-richest-arab-in.html
“...Q: You just gave $20 million to Harvard and another $20 million to Georgetown to advance the study of Islam, and some are concerned that you are trying to increase the on-campus influence of the Saudi royal family, of which you are reportedly the single wealthiest member...”