UC Berkeley has taken the controversial step of suspending Peyrin Kao, a lecturer in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) department, for pro-Palestinian remarks he made in the classroom. Kao's suspension for the spring 2026 semester will be without pay, following recommendations by Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Benjamin Hermalin. The university alleges that Kao's remarks constituted a misuse of the classroom for political advocacy, a claim that Kao and supporting groups are vigorously challenging.
According to The Daily Californian, Hermalin cited several instances in which Kao discussed pro-Palestinian activism in his lectures, including a fall 2025 lecture where Kao mentioned his poor health due to a hunger strike tied to his activism, information he elaborated on a personal website rather than disclosing fully in the classroom. STEM4Palestine, a campus group Kao helped establish, called for a mass hunger strike in response to the suspension, demanding his reinstatement and the divestment of university funds from what they described as "genocide in Gaza."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA), while detailing the broader campaign of retribution faced by those speaking on Palestine, declared the suspension as a flagrant violation of academic freedom. "UC Berkeley must reverse this decision, stop weaponizing vague policies against Palestine advocacy and ensure its campus is a place where truth and justice can be taught without fear," said Zahra Billoo, CAIR-SFBA Executive Director, per CAIR's official website.
Kao, adamant about the validity of his classroom discussions, has refuted the claims of misconduct. In a statement provided by The Daily Californian, Kao detailed that the mention of Gaza in his spring 2024 lecture was purely an example intended to prompt critical thinking about the ethical implications of technology, not a form of political indoctrination. Furthermore, Kao argued the personal impact of his hunger strike was not visible in his teaching performance and that his lectures during that period were "indistinguishable" from those he had given before.
Union support has rallied behind Kao, with the University Council – American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT) planning to file a grievance against the suspension. UC-AFT representatives have suggested that the disciplinary process itself may have violated due process, given that the "Skelly hearing" results were delayed, according to grievance steward Ian Davis in an email to The Daily Californian.
