Hello everyone. My name is Corbin, and I am a person who suffers from anxiety and major depression. After finally being seen about earlier this year, I started medication and talked to my doctor about the option for an emotional support animal, which she said would be good for me. I had talked to the school prior to getting my bearded dragon, and it was verified that I could have her in the dorms. They did NOT do research to determine the equipment needed to care for these animals. Because of this failure on the half of the University of Southern Mississippi, and after two and a half months of having her in the dorm, I was told that her lights are a fire hazard and I will be required to move her out of the dorms. The University immediately threatened to fine me if I did not remove her (upwards to $500). Their simple solution was to “remove the light, or remove the bearded dragon and find another support animal.” This statement was extremely insulting to me, as my mental health differentiates on different days. A bearded dragon was the best animal for me and my family to keep. I had a cat at first, but it overwhelmed me to the point where I had to take it back. 
In close, because of the failure from the staff at the University of Southern Mississippi to properly do research, I am being discriminated against because of my choice of an emotional support animal. All because they require heating lamps in order to survive, I cannot have her. The University is not accommodating for students who have a need for these animals. 
This is where this petition comes in. I need your help. I feel that there should be a statement in place to have special rules to keep animals that have special requirements in the dorm, or to disallow these animals in FINE PRINT.