A UC-Berkeley lecturer has started a self-imposed “starvation diet” to protest Israel and pressure the university to sever ties with defense-related research. The protest includes a demand that the school acknowledge Israel’s alleged “genocide” and “apartheid,” while also labeling the university complicit through its tech development and corporate partnerships.
Peyrin Kao, a lecturer in UC-Berkeley’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department, has reduced his daily intake to just 250 calories—a number he says reflects the food Palestinians allegedly receive in Gaza. His protest, featured on the EECS department’s class homepage, warns students he may appear “in poor health” due to the diet and includes links to political content supporting the Palestinian cause.
Kao stated he is not at risk of starvation or displacement but intends the protest to show symbolic solidarity. His meals include plain pasta and water, and he admits experiencing extreme fatigue. He framed the diet as a moral stance, accusing Israel of operating an “illegal occupation” and demanding action from the university.
His protest marks a growing trend of activism within elite academic institutions, where anti-Israel sentiment has escalated and university policies are increasingly targeted for ideological reform. Critics argue that such classroom activism undermines academic integrity and crosses the line between teaching and political indoctrination.
