In three years, USF will celebrate its 50th anniversary. In recognition to this special event, USF has plans for a book to be published for the mile-marker.

Mark Greenberg, director of the USF Libraries’ Florida Studies Center and author of the book, said his work will appeal to a variety of people.

“A book was chosen because it was felt a coffee table book would be the most effective medium for sharing USF’s history with a wide audience including current students, faculty and staff as well as alumni and local leaders,” Greenberg said. “A coffee table book is easily accessed and enjoyed by young and old alike.”

Greenberg is conducting 150 oral histories of students, faculty, staff, alumni and local leaders to provide entertaining information for the book.

“The staff of the Florida Studies Center have spent countless hours in the USF Libraries’ Special Collections looking through USF archives, photos and donated collections from the community,” Greenberg said.

The work will be presented as an oversized hardcover book with about 100-150 pages, Greenberg said.

The price has not been determined.

Greenberg said alumni, members of the community and other faculty members have also dedicated much of their time to the project.

Greenberg added that the book will include USF history from all its campuses.

History is currently being collected, he said, including stories about USF and how rules and regulations were enforced in the 1960s.

“Back in the 1960s, you either lived on campus, with your parents or in an approved household. USF had to okay it,” said Andrew Huse, program assistant at the Florida Studies Center. Huse is also a history columnist for The Oracle’s Features section.

Another story that is being considered for this book is about the Golden Brahman mascot, a fiberglass bull, which went missing from the University Center, Huse said.

“The Brahman Breeders Association gave USF the 6-foot tall and 6-foot-long, $2,000 bull in 1970,” Huse said.

The bull attended all of USF’s home basketball games. The bull’s ear and a ransom note were delivered to The Oracle’s editor at the time, Huse said. “The note demanded the resignation of then USF president Cecil Mackey, library hours of 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, the return of rock music and news programs to WUSF-FM and cuts in administrative waste,” Huse said. “The ransom notes said that the bull will be castrated if the demands are not met within 48 hours.”

However, the University Police found the disfigured and castrated bull outside of the Fine Arts building before the 48 hours expired, Huse said, and the perpetrators were never found.

This anniversary book will include not only historical markings throughout USF’s life but also memories and will show USF’s progress through 50 years.

Anyone looking to contribute pictures or ideas can e-mail any questions to: usfhistory@lib.usf.edu