CALIFORNIA – Hundreds of students filled Chumash Auditorium at Cal Poly as Dalia Mogahed, a Muslim-American scholar, gave a speech on the dangers of Islamophobia.

“It gave me goosebumps every so often,” said Eric Lin, a Cal Poly junior math major who said he is not Muslim.

Mogahed came in a short notice, in response to an invitation from Cal Poly’s Muslim students group, as they have often felt marginalized on campus.

Mogahed is an Egyptian-American Muslim scholar and researcher with the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding and was an adviser to former President Barack Obama and co-author of the book “Who Speaks for Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think.”

In her speech, “Islamophobia: A Threat to All,” Mogahed explores the current environment for Muslim-Americans and addresses misconceptions about Islam.

At the beginning, she referenced her experiences post 9/11, including the first time she felt she had to hide her true identity.

“For the first time in my life, I was afraid for someone to know I was Muslim,” she said.

Mogahed also placed an emphasis on why wearing a hijab is not oppressive, referencing her own experience.

“I felt at 17 it was my feminist declaration of independence from what I felt was an oppressive standard of beauty that we were being held to,” she said.

Saturday’s event provided a contrast to a campus speech in January by Milo Yiannopoulos, a right-wing provocateur who made a remark that Muslims are prone to “gang rape.” His Spanos Theatre speech drew a crowd of about 500, as well as protests outside.

Muslim Student Association president Rubia Siddiqi said the decision to bring in Mogahed came as her group searched for a way to counter Yiannopoulos’ often explosive rhetoric.

“We wanted someone who would be appealing not just to the Muslim community, but also the wider community,” she said, noting the event cost about $5,000 to put on, plus Mogahed’s transportation expenses.

The university covered $3,000 of the total cost for her presentation, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

“Every dean on campus has given money to support this event,” Cal Poly professor and Muslim Student Association adviser Stephen Lloyd-Moffett said in his opening remarks.

“Literally every corner of this campus has come together to support our Muslim students today.”

Reactions to the speech were largely positive.

“I loved her presentation,” said Leona Evans, minister at Unity of San Luis Obispo.