Written by Justin Pelliccia

Have you ever thought about Cultural Property? I bet not, but now is the time! Cultural Property as defined by John Merryman, a Stanford University professor, are “objects that embody or express or evoke the culture; principally archaeological, ethnographical and historical objects, works of art and architecture” (Merryman 513). We believe that it is extremely important to educate students about Cultural Property!! Cultural Property could give students a sense of pride within their own culture, and they can develop a better understanding about the different cultures that exist all around us. John Merryman backs this claim up by noting that their are two ways to think about Cultural Property, one is as “components of common human culture” and another is as “part of a national cultural heritage” (Merryman 831-832). If you would like to see a USF Museum set up an exhibit where students, like all of you, can be educated on the topic of Cultural Property then please help us out by signing our online petition @ http://www.change.org/petitions/ cultural-property-petitionto get a USF Museum to create a Cultural Property exhibit!!

You can also “LIKE” us on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/USFculturalprop and follow us on Tumblr @ www.usfculturalprop.tumblr.com!!! Also, look for us around campus passing out fliers, chalking, and interviewing random students. Finally, please come check us out at the Rhetoric in Action Day in the Marshall Center on April 25TH, 2012 where you can learn more about Cultural Property and sign our petition!!!!!

Thank You in advance from the Cultural Property Awareness Team!!

Merryman, John Henry. “‘Protection’ of the Cultural ‘Heritage’.” The American Journal

of Comparative Law 38 (1990): 513-522. Print.

Merryman, John Henry. “Two Ways of Thinking About Cultural Property.” The

American Journal of International Law 80.4 (1986): 831-853. Print.