UC Berkeley suspended lecturer Peyrin Kao for six months after investigators concluded he had used instructional time to press political views on Gaza and linked his public hunger strike to in‑class talks, citing Regents Policy 2301. The university’s provost said Kao intended to influence students’ political thinking; Kao and free‑speech advocates argue the measures violate academic freedom. Kao’s prior censure and the new suspension have reignited campus debate over boundaries between classroom instruction and political advocacy. Supporters published op‑eds and letters defending Kao’s speech as protected expression; university officials say the action responds to complaints that students were made uncomfortable. The episode is being cited across campuses as an example of tensions between faculty activism, classroom conduct policies, and institutional responsibilities to maintain neutral instructional time.