To who it may concern, I am opposed to Primate Testing at UMass Amherst because it is cruel, unnecessary and counter-productive. Once example is the work of Professor Melinda Novak (Psychology Department Chair) who is currently well into a 14 year research project investigating Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB) in primates. Jerrold Meyer, another UMass researcher is not only collaborating with Melinda Novak, but he is working on a similarly unproductive study. Dr. Meyer\'s project includes exposing primates to long term chronic use of MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy. This research does not make us more knowledgeable; it makes us more savage. It is not our intent to diminish the reputations of these researchers. Rather it is because we respect their credentials and research portfolios that we want them to apply their great talent to problems that matter and which can be pursued without exposing innocent primates to these abominable conditions. I am joining with Hampshire Animal Liberation Advocacy to urge the administrations and research professors at the five colleges to abandon the cruel and archaic techniques of the past and work towards developing an acceptable standard Best wishes for an improved approach to research,