Key Takeaways
- Justin Yokota, a respected Berkeley EECS lecturer with deep ties to the university, was abruptly terminated, sparking outrage among students and faculty.
- Following Yokota’s dismissal, CS 168, a vital upper-division computer science course with over 300 students enrolled or waitlisted, was unexpectedly canceled.
- A student petition argues that budget cuts can’t explain the decision, as CS 168 is cost-effective to run, and demands both Yokota’s reinstatement and the return of the course.
Students and faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, are voicing outrage and confusion following the abrupt termination of Justin Yokota.
He was a highly respected lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS).
Yokota’s dismissal has sparked widespread criticism and a growing student-led petition demanding his reinstatement and the reintroduction of CS 168.
This key upper-division computer science course was canceled shortly after his termination.
A Distinguished Educator
Yokota, who completed both his undergraduate and master’s degrees at Berkeley, was deeply embedded in the university’s academic culture.
With a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science and a fifth-year Master’s focused on parallel computing, he was well-regarded for his subject matter expertise and his commitment to teaching.
Over the years, he served as a Teaching Assistant for nine semesters and later became a lecturer, known particularly for his work in exam writing and instruction.
Outside the classroom, he was a puzzle enthusiast and avid player of Celeste.
His sudden dismissal shocked many, especially given the high demand for CS education at Berkeley.
The university’s decision has been widely criticized as short-sighted and counterproductive.
Budget Cuts Or Deeper Issues?
Initial speculation online suggested budget cuts were behind the termination.
One Reddit user noted:
“Most likely just budget cuts. Lecturers go first before tenure-track assistant professors and anything research related.”
Via Reddit
But others strongly pushed back against that explanation, especially considering the importance of CS lecturers:
“Cutting an EECS lecturer is actually insane. The demand for CS education at Berkeley is sooo high, they can’t find the money to pay the people who actually teach? What?”
Via Reddit
The third said,
“Budget reasons, apparently, which is very stupid given the number of students he teaches.”
Via Reddit
Cancellation Of CS 168 & Petition To Bring It Back
At the heart of the controversy lies CS 168, a course covering internet systems foundations.
It is vital knowledge for students pursuing careers in software engineering, data science, machine learning, and related fields.
Following Yokota’s termination, the department canceled the course, citing a lack of available teaching staff.
Students say the loss of this course is a serious blow to their degree plans.
CS 168 is one of the few upper-division CS courses open to all students regardless of major status, making it essential for those in Data Science and CS minors.
Over 300 students were enrolled or waitlisted for the course before it was pulled with little explanation.
According to a detailed petition signed by hundreds of students:
“CS 168 is one of the leanest courses to run in terms of course staff costs at just $125 per enrollment… In fact, when concurrent enrollment and TAS revenue are factored in, the course is one of few in EECS that makes substantially more money than it costs to run.”
Via Petition
The petition argues that cancelling CS 168 actually harms the department financially, contradicting the “budgetary challenges” explanation.
Many now believe the real reason behind the cancellation is tied directly to Yokota’s removal.
The petition further questions the department’s transparency:
“If the course was suspended for a reason unrelated to the budget, why was it approved for offer in the first place? What changed between the offering and cancellation which warranted a last-minute removal?”
Via Petition
It also notes that Lecturer Peyrin Kao, who was originally assigned to CS 168, was reassigned to teach CS 61B, a course Yokota had previously handled.
Students argue that this shuffle is evidence that Yokota’s termination directly resulted in the cancellation of CS 168 due to a staffing gap.
The students are demanding two immediate actions:
- Reinstate CS 168 for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.
- Rehire Justin Yokota, whose instructional contributions have been vital over the past three years.
