University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Chancellor Phyllis Wise told faculty members that she is proud the school can have the kind of "difficult, uncomfortable" debate about the decision not to hire a professor over his profane, anti-Israel Twitter messages.

Wise addressed the campus' Faculty Senate on Monday during its crowded regular meeting.

According to reports, she heard from both her critics and supporters during the meeting.

Wise told Native American Studies professor Steven Salaita on Aug. 1 that he wouldn't be hired. Months earlier he accepted an offer from the university to start work in August.

Professor Jodi Byrd told Wise the decision had harmed the department.

But student-body President Mitch Dickey told the crowd he and others support Wise.