If you walk around the Global Commons, you may run into a new furry face on campus.
While Luna may look like your average cat, she's actually a registered emotional support animal. Assistant Director of Residence Life in the Global Neighborhood, Rei Haycraft, bought Luna last April to help with her medical condition.
"I have a chronic pain disease called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), which is degenerative," Haycraft said. "There's a lot of daily pain, as well as anxiety and depression associated with it."
The two have been inseparable since the day they first met.
"Luna started pawing at the window. I opened it, she jumped out and curled around my neck like a boa. I was like, 'Well this is the cat.'"
Haycraft also plans to share Luna with Elon students through a program called "Life Chats with Luna."
"Weekly, I'm going to sit out in the courtyard and just invite students to come and pet her, be comforted by her [and] share anything that's going on with them," said Haycraft. "[When] having an adorable small cat sitting in your lap, all of your cares suddenly go away."
Junior Kayla Harvey is a Resident Assistant in the Global Neighborhood, and she's already noticed the impact Luna has had on her residents.
"They love Luna. They swarm when they see her," said Harvey. "It definitely helps them de-stress and feel more at home here at Elon."
Haycraft invites all students to her office in Global Commons to get to know Luna.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lbn_8BqRHw&noredirect=1&w=560&h=315]