Tuesday, January 29, 2002

Judge Orders Web Company to Reveal Name of Anonymous Louisiana Professor By DAN CARNEVALE A federal judge ruled last week that a Web-hosting company has until February 8 to reveal the identity of a professor who has anonymously published a Web site criticizing administrators at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. A lawyer representing the professor, J. Michael Rhymes, said Monday that he most likely would appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Last week's ruling, by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James, denies a request to overturn a December order by a federal magistrate. The December order instructed the company that hosts the Web site to release the name of the professor. The Web site, Truth at ULM, posts news and documents alleging that administrators at the university are covering up information that shows they misused university money. After the Web site was established, a legislative audit reported financial mismanagement at the university. The audit led to the resignation last year of the university president, Lawson L. Swearingen Jr., who was a frequent target of the Web site. Richard L. Baxter, vice president for external affairs at the university, filed a motion in August asking the court to require the Internet company, Homestead Technologies Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif., to identify the professor. Mr. Baxter would not comment on the latest development, and his attorney did not return telephone calls from The Chronicle. But Mr. Baxter has previously indicated that he wants to learn the professor's name to file a slander-and-defamation lawsuit against the person. The professor's lawyer, Mr. Rhymes, said that Mr. Baxter has not presented any evidence of damage or defamation to warrant a trial. Homestead Technologies has not directly participated in the legal wrangling. Instead, the company is letting the professor and the professor's attorney fight Mr. Baxter in court. Background articles from The Chronicle: Court Orders Company to Name Professor Behind Anonymous Web Site (11/9/2001) Murray State's New Leader May Be a Chip Off the Old Block; U. of Louisiana at Monroe President Quits (9/14/2001) Louisiana Auditors Find Irregularities at 2 State Universities (1/12/2001) Anonymous Web Site Posts Rumors, Grievances, and Leaked Documents (12/1/2000) Easy-to-print version E-mail this article

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