Remembering the Days: A USC Podcast

Campus ghost stories, USC's first national championship* (yes, there's an asterisk beside it), the Mother Superior of the business school and a look back at USC's first dean of women — that's just some of what's in store for the fall 2026 season of Remembering the Days, which kicks off in late August. 

The start of softball as a USC varsity sport goes back more than 50 years, and it's a rich history — the very first team made it to the College World Series. Since then, USC has had a parade of great coaches and players and an enthusiastic fan base to cheer them on. 

When it was dedicated in 1955, the Russell House University Union building was an instant hit with students — a place to gather, eat and have fun in the middle of campus. Several additions and more than 70 years later, the Russell House is still that place. Remembering the Days co-host Evan Faulkenbury talked with several alumni who share their Russell House memories. 

The presidency of Donald S. Russell at the University of South Carolina was an intersection of the right person at the right time with the right resources. Russell's presidency helped to usher USC into the modern age and set the stage for the university's dynamic growth in the 1960s and beyond. 

Students at Carolina have been taking chemistry since the institution began in the early 19th century. The story of the chemistry and biochemistry department is about science, for sure, but it's mainly about people. 

Nearly 60 years ago, USC and the Greene Street United Methodist Church were caught up in a legal battle over whether the church's building could remain standing in the path of the university's campus expansion. Decades later, both sides agreed to an elegant solution. 

For 40 years Dennis Pruitt served as vice president for student affairs at USC, where he was responsible for nearly every facet of the student experience. In the face of near constant change, Pruitt helped create an ecosystem where successive generations of students could thrive in and out of the classroom. 

Since opening its doors in 1805, Carolina has made foreign language learning an essential part of its curriculum. Classical languages — Latin and Greek — are still taught, but they're now among a much larger group of languages offered, along with many opportunities for students to put their foreign language skills in practice. 

Built before WWII as the newest dorm for men, Preston College experienced a renaissance 30 years ago when it was completely renovated for its transformation into USC's first residential college for men and women. Since then, the centrally located residence hall has become a magnet for students with a bent toward creativity and leadership. 

Join us Tuesday Jan. 27 for another season of Remembering the Days, as we explore the rich and sometimes quirky history of the University of South Carolina.