The University administration is finally coming to its senses about the same-sex benefits… The University administration is finally coming to its senses about the same-sex benefits issue.

For the last five years, Pitt has been entangled in litigation over granting benefits to same-sex partners of faculty and staff. At times, the battle over this has resulted in hunger strikes, protests and nasty verbal exchanges.

But it appears a resolution is imminent. The University will form a committee to study the issue and in exchange, the plaintiffs will suspend their lawsuit pending the committee’s decision.

This committee is a step in the right direction, but only if the University is doing this in good faith and not simply as a stall tactic.

It is also a good public relations move on the part of the administration; Pitt has come under fire in recent years because of homophobic remarks from trustees such as J. Wray Connolly.

When the committee presents its report to Chancellor Mark Nordenberg in six months, the report should contain the right conclusion