The Eagle sympathizes with President Benjamin Ladner in his desire to claim the Web site named after him, as it is believable that new students, possible donors and others interested in the university could confuse the student-run Web site benladner.com as a site owned or somehow affiliated with Ladner. For instance, when doing a Google search for "Ben Ladner" the student-run Web site benladner.com is the first search result. However, while the benladner.com staff are no doubt concerned by the suit, The Eagle feels the dispute could work out for the best for all parties involved.
While benladner.com was initially dedicated to ripping on Ladner and AU administration, it has since evolved as it has attempted to become a legitimate alternative source for campus news. Changing the domain name would be more fitting for the site's recent objectives. That, combined with the publicity Ladner's complaint has generated and will continue to create for the site, could prove to be a blessing in disguise for benladner.com. Site organizer Ben Wetmore established the name to cause trouble, but the site is beyond the Wetmore era.
Ladner has said that it's not about the content of the site, just the name. Truly, Wetmore's followers could easily bash Ladner under a different domain name if they wished. This is not a free speech issue.
There are mixed precedents on suits such as this, but regardless of the outcome, criticism of Ladner will continue with or without the domain named benladner.com.
