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Last week, in an unprecedented move, hordes of waste receptacles held silent protests at conveniently spaced locations all across campus in order to raise awareness about the current use of the highly offensive "mixed" label.
Groups such as Rights for Receptacles, the National Organization for Waste (NOW), and the National Association for the Advancement of Container Pride (NAACP) lent support and solidarity on what one observer deemed "a day of indisputable significance."
"Organizing within the container receptacle community has often been a difficult task, but today we come together to fight for an issue that is important both for us and for other equality struggles worldwide," said Drew Basura, an organizer for the union Containers Local 95.
In the past two decades container receptacle protests have been conspicuously absent, but the 1980s saw the successful eradication of another disparaging label for trash bins. 'Can,' or the c-word as it is often referred to in educated circles, today only finds use among urbanites fascinated by the receptacle lifestyle.
"We want our own designation: 'multi-racial' or 'mestizo.' Why should I have to wear a label that belittles my complex heritage? Do you see any place on the census survey to indicate that you're white trash? No. Then there's no reason such a derogatory term as 'mixed container' waste bin should be used for those of us who work day and night to keep this campus clean," remarked a mixed container waste bin outside The Gate.
These bins do not want to be held back in any way after the significant accomplishment of gaining the "receptacle" label over three decades ago. "Political correctness is more than an issue of semantics; it promotes equality on so many levels," said community organizer Caisson Crock. "We didn't go one step forward only to throw some of it away."
President Ruth Simmons released a statement in response to the protests in which she acknowledged that "a progressive institution like Brown must not hold itself back with the use of such offensive labels." The matter is rumored to have been brought up at a recent Corporation meeting.
Throughout the day, protesters faced little spoken opposition, but many cited complaints of having objects thrown at them. "We held firm, though, and I have to say I'm proud of what we've done here today" said Crock.
Other receptacles stated that they received support from students.
Alice Appetent '10, member of the ACLU, Amnesty International, Save Darfur, and the Sugar Bears, ranked the struggle as "probably like the fourth most important issue of Generation Y, and I think we should all get out here for solidarity." LaShawnda
Chantique Trujillo Gutierrez '11 sympathized with the receptacles' struggle. "I have always fought the 'mixed' label and I feel others shouldn't have to do the same."
After the day of silent demonstrations, many containers reportedly claimed confidently, "It smells like victory."
