Richard Neal's Speech:
VICTORY.
14th Oct 1999
Students had victory the moment they stepped toward the registry.
The greatest prize for students, that came from the occupation, was the realisation of their own freedom and power.
The Students at Canterbury number 12,000 the guards numbered 8. The option of taking the registry was never going to be difficult. But by far the toughest barrier was not the guards but ourselves.
The greatest support of the 45% fee rise the council could of hoped for was not to get us on side.
But to convince us that any other side was unrealistic.
The greatest way to stop our freedom over the matter was not to coerce or physically oppress us.
But to convince us that such a value was pointless.
The University Council's greatest tactic in the past to get through fee rises was not to make us make us make a decision in favour of them.
But to convince us not make any decision at all.

The People involved in the occupation showed a direct attack on that thesis.
For many students 4 weeks ago, at the first rally, the distance from the Library steps to the registry was not the small step it seems now but a psychological ocean.
We Know it was the people committed to the posters, the banners, the lecture speaking, the media releases, the petitioners, the Chalksters, the meetings, the leaflets, the talking and the shouting that shrunk the ocean to the puddles we saw on Tuesday.
But we must realise that behind this was the PASSION and CONVICTION that gave us the POWER to make those decisions. It was the POWER of those decisions that led to ACTION and it was the POWER behind those actions that led to CHANGE.

Every single individual must know that it was their decision to cast of the illusion of powerlessness that brought about change.
During the time of the rally and occupation there were some tall individuals, but it was only because they were lifted into the air by the arms of everybody involved.

I used to think that our strength was the Occupation.

I used to think that our strength was the ownership of the registry.

I used to think that the biggest worry to the registry is that we had their building.

But by far the greatest strength we had and the greatest worry the Council and government policy has. Is the increasing consciousness of the students and the empowerment that everybody gave themselves. And the knowledge that we can occupy the registry any time we choose.

Students have the knowledge that it is not the situation that governs students.
But, with freedom and action, it is the students that govern the situation.
Some may say that it is the environment that defines our choices and their outcomes.
People
You have shown that with freedom and action we can redefine that environment and create our own choices.
You are all AWESOME


First Speech, Oct 6th, 1999
Third Speech (the one with the Taonga!), Oct 14th, 1999
Final Speech: Oct 14th, 1999

NO MOREFEE$

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