Horns Up: Exxon will provide same-sex benefits

Exxon Mobil has announced that it will start offering benefits to employees in same-sex marriages, in accordance with the Supreme Court decision overruling the Defense of Marriage Act. It's about time. The oil company has developed a reputation of discriminatory policies against LGBTQ employees, and was ranked last in a comparison compiled by the Human Rights Campaign of various corporate anti-discrimination policies. Exxon Mobil is also dealing with a discrimination complaint from a gay job applicant in Illinois. We approve of the company's statement that it will, in fact, comply with federal law, but we hope to continue to see signs of a commitment to equal rights for its employees from the oil giant. 

Horns Down: Don't hire Kiffin

The University of Southern California fired head football coach Lane Kiffin in the wee hours of Sunday morning after the Trojans' shellacking at the hands of PAC 12 rival Arizona State. Kiffin was informed of the decision when the team plane landed in Los Angeles. We're not entirely satisfied with Mack Brown's reign, but as Kiffin is better at attracting controversy and NCAA penalties than he is at winning football games, we really hope UT doesn't give the newly-unemployed coach a call.

Horns Up: UT stands up to Young Conservatives

Gregory Vincent, UT's vice president for diversity and community engagement, released a statement Friday calling out Young Conservatives of Texas for organizing a racially-charged bake sale on the West Mall earlier in the week. "[The YCT's actions] create an environment of exclusion and disrespect among our students, faculty and staff," the statement read. "Although it is their right to do so, it is deplorable that a few students took advantage of this open forum to direct negative sentiment toward their peers." We agree with Vincent and hope that students embrace his vision for a more tolerant, respectful campus community.