The Oracle, University of South Florida's student-run newspaper, made history when it printed its first issue September 6, 1966. It was the first college newspaper in the United States to feature full color photographs on the front page of each issue, according to the Associated Collegiate Press.

The paper replaced the Campus Edition of the Tampa Times, which had previously served as the school's news publication. The Tampa Times had given the student paper three pages of its Monday editions to feature campus news and made a special press run specifically for that purpose.

In 1966, Arthur Anderson, director of student publications, entered into an agreement with the St. Petersburg Times to print an entire stand-alone newspaper which would be distributed on campus each Wednesday. Associate communications professor Steve Yates, editor-in-chief Harry Haigley and photographer Tony Zappone collaberated in naming it "The Oracle." Its first staff consisted of about 20 student volunteers and paid staffers who used a tiny room on the second floor of the University Student Center as headquarters. Yates became the academic coordinator of the paper and kept offices, along with Sanderson, in a room adjacent to the newspaper office for ease of consultation.

Editor Haigley assigned Zappone the task of creating one color photograph, illustrating campus life or events, for each issue. It was a feature no other university newspaper would have for years to come and was made possible because of special presses used by the St. Petersburg Times.

In 1967, during its first year of publication, The Oracle once again made history by within the Associate Collegiate Press' coveted Pacemaker Award for the nation's best university campus newspaper.

In the 70's, the newspaper began publishing twice weekly and eventually beefed up the student news and advertising sales staff sufficiently to publish everyday. National college journalism organizations still consider the paper one of the best prepared in the country.