New SF State President Takes Measured View of Israel Fray

J. (SAN FRANCISCO) -- In her response to those conflicts, Mahoney was consistent; she distanced the university from the views expressed by individual students or professors and trumpeted the Jewish studies program and its diversity. Ultimately, she came down on the side of defending free speech — barring danger to the health and safety of students — while remaining sympathetic to those who might be “wounded” by it.

“I’m a firm believer that you combat words with words,” Mahoney said. “As a historian, I have never seen, historically, the successful use of censorship.” She conceded that the Facebook posts were “inflammatory.” But “the good news is it has precipitated lots of conversations.”