A university in western Michigan has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a student who was banned from carrying her pet guinea pig to certain locations on campus.

Grand Valley State University reportedly has offered 28-year-old student Kendra Velzen $40,000 to settle the lawsuit.  Velzen, who suffers from chronic depression and has a pacemaker, maintained in her lawsuit that her pet guinea pig "provides her with emotional support and attachment (reducing symptoms of depression), and physiological and psychological benefits." 

According to news sources, Velzen was granted permission by university officials to keep a guinea pig in her dorm room (an exception to the dormitory policy that does not allow pets), but forbidden to take the rodent anywhere food was served, or to class. Velzen considered these stipulations unfairly burdensome and she alleged that the university failed to provide reasonable accommodation for her disabilities, in violation of federal housing laws.

Under the terms of the settlement, the university rejected all claims that either the school or school officials "acted wrongly or failed to act in any way with regard to Kendra Velzen." The university did agree to collaborate with the local fair housing center to create a policy for accommodation of assistance animals in on-campus housing facilities.

—Source:  The Daily Caller