The ASUC formally condemns the suspension without pay of Lecturer Peyrin Kao, calling it a disproportionate and unjust application of Regents Policy 2301. It demands the University of California, Berkeley immediately reinstate Peyrin Kao to his lecturer position with full restoration of pay and teaching duties. Furthermore, the resolution urges the UC Office of the President to issue clear guidance on Regents Policy 2301 to prevent selective disciplinary actions and guarantee academic discourse for all community members.
No roll call was taken. Everyone recorded present when the Senate agreed is shown as not objecting.
9 people spoke
feb 25Adan Souza, a Berkeley Law student affiliated with Cal Legal, spoke in favor of SR 25/26-058 regarding Peyrin. Souza argued from a legal perspective that Regents Policy 2301 was not violated because class curriculum was completed before any political discussion, warning that overenforcing the policy risks broader censorship.
Max Schlossberg spoke in favor of SR 25/26-058, condemning the suspension of a teaching assistant as an abuse of power and infringement on academic freedom. He urged the Senate to pass the resolution to protect free speech and prevent a dangerous precedent for students and faculty.
Aya, a graduate student and former student government member, urged senators to vote yes on SR 25/26-058 and go beyond symbolic condemnation by leveraging their access to institutional power. She emphasized that administrative discipline against faculty puts all students and faculty at risk.
A graduate student encouraged the Senate to pass the resolution and actively use their positions of power to fight for full reinstatement with full pay rather than stopping at a symbolic condemnation. They warned that allowing the suspension to stand sets a precedent for the University of California to penalize unfavorable legal speech.
Jaylen, an undergraduate and Jewish student, spoke in support of the resolution. They emphasized that criticizing Israel and opposing genocide is not antisemitic and urged senators to vote yes.
Yusuf Karan, President of the Muslim Student Association, spoke in support of Peyrin Kao, praising him for demonstrating ethics and advocating for Muslim students on campus. He also criticized the university for lack of transparency and for silencing student organizations, specifically citing the cancellation of a Black Palestinian Solidarity Panel.
Ayla Surdi, a visibly Muslim undergraduate at UC Berkeley, spoke in favor of the resolution. She argued that supporting it protects free speech, moral ethics, and marginalized students who face discrimination on campus.
Jenna, a data science major who took Professor Karen's CS51B class, urged the ASUC Senate to support the resolution demanding his reinstatement. She praised his teaching quality and commitment to students during his hunger strike, arguing that suspending him without pay undermines free speech and devalues his contributions to the CS department.
A computer science student spoke in support of Professor Pan Tao (Perrin) and the resolution, praising his dedication as an instructor and advocating for more ethics requirements in STEM. The speaker asserted that university administration suspended him to protect corporate and defense sector interests that influence course materials.
Senator Alrai thanked the Center for Policy for helping write the bill and echoed public comments regarding the impact of repression on academic freedom, emphasizing the importance of the resolution.
Vice President Isha Chander encouraged attendees to attend an upcoming meeting with the chancellor to demand administrative accountability. She thanked organizers and student leaders for supporting the legislation and reminded elected officials to leverage their seats for student advocacy.
