Hello baby monkey supporters. We are now almost 400,000 voices strong. Your efforts are starting to show signs of success. The university has decided that it will not separate and isolate the baby monkeys from their mothers at birth. I'm sure pressure from you helped them put extra effort to look at ways to reduce the controversy about these baby monkey experiments. While this change is welcomed, the baby monkeys will still be tormented and killed after the first year of life. The experiment has not taken place! It's scheduled to begin in June 2015 so now is the time to step up the pressure and be heard. 1) No matter where you live, everyone please contact Chancellor Blank’s office at (608) 262-9946 and ask once again that the university cancel this unethical and wasteful study. I am so grateful for your support in this ongoing campaign. It could not happen without compassionate people like you. Let us not waver! Share the link change.org/uwmonkeys 2) I also have an additional, urgent call to action for Wisconsin residents. The University of Wisconsin is asking your Wisconsin state legislators to amend the state’s public records laws (aka sunshine laws) in an attempt to keep its cruel experiments such as that involving the baby monkeys secret from the public. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker sneaked a provision into the state budget bill that does just that – it exempts the University of Wisconsin from being forced by law to disclose information and documents to the public about what is going on behind closed doors in its research laboratories. In fact, the horrific details of the baby monkey experiments were discovered only because the university was required to hand over the incriminating information pursuant to these laws. The university’s desire to stonewall the public is the cornerstone of a current lawsuit by the Animal Legal Defense Fund against the university. We need to have these laws in place to access and further scrutinize the university’s ongoing actions against the baby monkeys and any other questionable activities. A blanket exemption as proposed would only lead to more abuse. You can read more here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-wells/monkeying-around-with-the-law_b_6819992.html We can't let this happen. The amendment will pass unless the public outcry is so great that the provision is dropped from the budget proposal. Please call and pressure your state legislators today. If you live in Wisconsin, you can find your state lawmakers and the contact information here: http://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/ You have a right to know. Will you take a minute and voice your opposition? You can say something like: “ My name is ______ and I live in your district. I oppose Governor Walker’s proposed amendment to the state’s sunshine laws which would exempt the University of Wisconsin from disclosing information about their research to the public. Please do not support this exemption. The university needs to be transparent and held accountable for research paid with our tax dollars. You can visit Change.org/uwmonkeys for more information.” Kindly ask for a response. And please consider attending one of the town hall meetings and publicly voice your opposition to alert your fellow citizens about the issue. Best, Dr. Decker