The Reveille: A Chronicle of Student Life and LSU History

The Reveille, Louisiana State University's student newspaper, has been a consistent voice on campus since its establishment. From its humble beginnings to its modern digital presence, the publication has mirrored the university's evolution and provided a platform for student expression, debate, and investigative reporting.

Early Years and Establishment (1887-1930s)

The earliest known issue of The Reveille was published in 1887. The publication did not become a permanent fixture of campus life until January 14, 1897, when it began weekly publication. The name "Reveille" itself holds significance, drawing from the French word "réveil," meaning to wake up. This is a military tradition originating in 1812 and calling soldiers to stand up and salute, acknowledging the day ahead. Given LSU's roots as an all-male military academy (originally known as the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy), the name was fitting, honoring the university's history while also suggesting a fresh start. In the 1920s, it began publishing twice a week.

The years from the 1890s to the 1910s were a turbulent time for America’s journalism industry. William Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer were in a fierce circulation war that had pushed the United States into the Spanish-American War. In many ways, a wake-up call is the perfect metaphor for a newspaper. Many Americans’ routine of reading the paper over breakfast brings structure and consistency.

Controversy and Censorship: The Huey Long Era

The Daily Reveille faced a defining early controversy in 1934 when Louisiana Senator Huey P. Long expelled seven staff members, who came to be known as the "Reveille Seven" (Carl McArn Corbin, Samuel A. Montague, Stanley D. Shlosman, Cal Joseph Abraham, Jesse H. Cutrer Jr., L. Rea Godbold, and David R. Long, accusing it of making a “mockery of constitutional government and democracy.” The students, now commonly referred to as the "Reveille Seven," were Carl Corbin, Samuel Montague, Stan Shlosman, Cal Abraham, Jesse Cutrer, L. The letter responded to Long's November 10 stunt, in which he assembled LSU students and football player Abe Mickal to simulate a campaign replacing State Sen. J.Y. Sanders Jr.

Long, who wielded significant control over LSU through appointed administrators and the state board, viewed the content as subversive amid his consolidation of power, which included suppressing dissent in media and academia. This act of censorship underscored the importance of editorial independence.

Wartime Coverage and Post-War Adjustments (1940s-1950s)

During the 1940s, World War II catalyzed further expansion, with the Reveille intensifying coverage of military training programs like the Navy's V-12 unit, which enrolled over 2,000 sailors at LSU by 1943, swelling the campus population and diversifying readership. Circulation likely surged alongside university enrollment, which peaked above 10,000 amid accelerated wartime curricula in engineering and aviation, prompting the newspaper to add specialized sections on defense contributions and alumni in service. Political frictions were muted compared to the Long era, though the Reveille navigated occasional debates over draft policies and resource rationing, maintaining editorial focus on factual war reporting without major expulsions.

The publication became the Daily Reveille in 1938, only to be forced back to twice-a-week status during the Second World War. Following the conclusion of World War II, Louisiana State University experienced an initial surge in enrollment driven by the G.I. Bill, which facilitated access for returning veterans, though this was temporarily disrupted by the Korean War. It resumed daily publication again in 1947 but dropped back to four issues a week in 1951 when the Korean War caused LSU enrollment to slump to just over 5,000 students.

Professionalization and Diversification (1980s)

Significant institutional changes emerged in the 1980s, marking a professionalization of the newspaper's operations. In 1982, Jay Perkins was appointed as The Daily Reveille's first dedicated faculty adviser through the Manship School of Mass Communication, promoting expanded reporting scopes beyond campus confines, such as coverage of a 1980s train derailment in Livingston Parish. Under Perkins' guidance, the staff diversified, exemplified by the appointment of Robert Pierre as the first Black editor-in-chief during this period.

Digital Transition and Modern Challenges (2000s-Present)

By the 2010s, shifting reader habits and resource constraints prompted a strategic pivot toward digital media. The Reveille operates as a student-led publication, staffed entirely by Louisiana State University undergraduates who handle all aspects of reporting, editing, design, and production and publishes online content daily at LSUReveille.com. The online platform, launched in 2001, disseminates content to alumni and off-campus audiences, sustaining engagement with former students who often advance to professional journalism roles informed by their campus experience.

Advertising has historically been the dominant source, though it declined to approximately half of 2007 levels by June 2015, prompting the depletion of reserves and a shift from daily to weekly print editions starting in January 2017. It prints twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters, and once a week on Monday in the summer.

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Funding and Editorial Independence

The Daily Reveille's funding primarily derives from advertising revenue, student fees allocated through LSU Student Media, and donations facilitated by the LSU Foundation. Unlike many university departments, student media outlets including the Reveille receive principal support from undergraduate tuition fees, which provide operational stability amid fluctuating ad income.

Editorial independence is a core principle, with the Reveille operating as a student-led publication free from direct administrative oversight in content decisions since its founding in 1887. This autonomy persists despite partial reliance on university-channeled student fees, distinguishing it from institutionally controlled media; historical precedents, such as resistance to political interference in the 1930s, underscore efforts to safeguard journalistic autonomy. Policies emphasize student governance in editorial choices, though funding ties invite scrutiny over potential indirect influences, with no verified instances of recent administrative censorship.

Content and Impact

The core sections of The Reveille encompass News, Sports, Entertainment, and Opinion, reflecting its focus on campus life, athletics, cultural events, and student perspectives at Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille conducts investigative reporting centered on Louisiana State University operations, student life, and administrative accountability, often leveraging public records, interviews with insiders, and data analysis to scrutinize campus policies and incidents.

The Daily Reveille has shaped the LSU community by serving as a primary source of campus news, investigative reporting, and opinion that informs student discourse and holds university administration accountable. Its coverage has directly influenced campus policies and awareness, such as investigative series on LSU's Flagship Agenda and the Tiger Athletic Foundation, which prompted public debate and scrutiny of institutional priorities. A notable example of its impact occurred during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, when Reveille journalists documented LSU's transformation of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center into a major evacuation hub treating over 5,000 individuals, providing critical updates on campus resources, volunteer opportunities, and human stories amid disrupted communications. The staff produced a special edition on September 6, 2005, earning awards for photography and reporting, while many reporters balanced coverage with personal involvement in relief efforts, enhancing community resilience and countering media oversight of Baton Rouge's role.

Alumni and Legacy

The Reveille boasts prestigious alumni, including E.J. Ourso, for whom LSU's College of Business is named, the political consultant Raymond Strother, political journalist and author John Maginnis, and Robert E. Pierre, a staff writer at The Washington Post. The Reveille Alumni Association facilitates networking and fundraising for current operations, amplifying the paper's legacy in broader media ecosystems and underscoring its role in developing ethical, resilient reporters capable of addressing regional issues like disaster response.

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Recognition and Awards

In 2003 the publication earned titles such as Best Newspaper on both state and regional levels.

Digitization Efforts

In 2015, LSU Libraries began a $100,000 project to create digital scans of the entire archives of the Daily Reveille to make them more accessible and searchable.

Student Involvement

The Daily Reveille, funded by advertising and student fees, employs more than 80 students each semester in jobs ranging from writing and editing to design and illustration. Each semester a board of professors, students, administrators and media professionals selects an editor-in-chief. The editor-in-chief selects a supporting management staff, who in turn hire writers, copy editors, designers, photographers and other staff members.

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