Fallon stands up for UWI students

I ASK you to take your mind back to April 7, 2004, when through the print and electronic media the image of a passionate and teary-eyed UWI student who declared her disgust with several Guild election irregularities entered our homes, offices and other institutions. The student was then second year biochemistry major Fallon Lutchmansingh who at the time was running for the position of Guild secretary. Fallon was yet again at the centre of media attention when Guild elections came around last month. However, a more experienced and austere Fallon was now running for presidency of the Guild and was resolute when she was being debarred from running for the position, (it was later found that the arguments against her involvement in the election race were unjust). On April 15 the outcome of the 2005 Guild election circulated and Fallon had been victorious, becoming only the second female to hold the presidency. Her firm stance in the face of adversity was cultivated by the hands of ill fate.

“I lost my dad when I was ten. I was closer to dad you know, I was the spoiled one as I was youngest, but without my dad It was one of those weird things at that age but the thing is that it made the bond between my mother and myself stronger,”  Fallon revealed. “In life I set out to achieve the best that I can in whatever I do, and in doing this never compromise. The idea of never compromising is really big for me, I won’t sacrifice what I stand for,” said Fallon as she associated her unwavering position with her ultimate goal in life. When delivering an address to students at an impromptu forum before this year’s Guild election, the relatively diminutive Fallon shook the gathering with her words. The voice of the charismatic post-teen echoed through the Humanities undercroft drawing supportive chants and applause from the large gathering.

Her confidence and drive to fight injustice may be linked to her involvement in the heavily disciplined world of martial arts. It may be hard to believe but she was the 2002 International Kung-Fu weapons champion. “Sport was significant in my life. I moved from gymnastics to Kung Fu and I was into heavy martial arts when I got to ‘Naps’ (Naparima Girls High School). I was getting a lot of trophies, you know I was really excited about it at the time.” Fallon laughed as she said, “actually my mother was concerned about the crime rate and thought that I should learn self-defence. She being Chinese particularly liked the whole martial arts idea so I got involved and was greatly encouraged by her to pursue it seriously.” Reflecting she said, “Before UWI my major challenges were school oriented, because it wasn’t always easy balancing school with the numerous competitions.

With exams coming around, A-Levels coming around, you know, it wasn’t the easiest thing. Coming to UWI, however, the challenges are along similar lines, the involvement in sport per se has reduced but now I have other extra-curricular activities including my involvement with the Guild and within the compact semester system things can get tough. I’ve come to know that many people don’t realise this but I have a strong faith in God and I pray a lot, plus I have a very strong and close group of friends. They help me through hard times when they come up.” Regarding her motivation to become involved in the Guild of students she said: “I was just another student who wasn’t too concerned about things, and really didn’t know what the Guild was about but I asked the question one day, ‘why do I have to pay this money every year?’ Then I met a group of people who informed me as to what the Guild can do as a union. Many people consider it a student government but it isn’t.

The Guild was there to fully represent the student at the time but I saw the Guild as not doing that and that was my primary motivation to get directly involved.” While speaking about her election she explained: “I definitely was not expecting this outcome because the population of UWI is quite diverse and isn’t really predictable. Some vote based on who they know, some vote based on popularity, so expecting the population to vote on merit was not a given and that was what our campaign was about. Strangely enough though, because I had so many exams taking place my reaction to the result was relatively calm. I think I have some euphoria pent up and it may not hit until I actually begin functioning in the role and have time to absorb the whole thing and reflect. Fallon is only the second female Guild president in its 40 years of existence.

“The fact that I’m a female was a consideration when making the decision for me to run for the position of president. Even with this as a consideration my selection was based on merit and the experience which I had being the secretary the previous year. Without being biased in any way I see myself as being in a position where I can be a voice of females on campus. Fortunately enough, being female I represent the majority of the student population. I really think that the fact that in the 40-year history of the guild I am only the second female president is of some significance. As females we tend to take a back seat and now we have the chance, myself and other members of the Guild council, to really represent these females as never in the past.”

“Being Guild secretary, there was a mass feeling of incompetence, I came in feeling all fired up but being the only person who was willing to stand up to certain things within the last guild, I was constantly criticised and my role was diminished. This may sound personal but it really isn’t. When you come to see that the ideas which you attempt to foster or contributions which you attempt to make are being disregarded and not in the best interest of the student body, you are motivated to do something and have a direct hand in bringing positive change on behalf of the student.” With the perpetual controversy surrounding the UWI Guild of students and the numerous criticisms laid against the guild in recent years what can we expect of Fallon and the councillors with whom she will be working?

To this she replied: “I feel the great expectation and with the tensions which took place earlier there is great anticipation of change. When you look at the composition of the council you see a lot of competence and I have faith in the members and evidently the student population shares this confidence in them. The change that will come can be easily summarised by saying that the student will now be given a voice, the voice that the Guild of students is meant to be. Student representation on issues of academic, social, recreational, cultural and other concern is what this guild is about.”

One is almost forced to wonder if Fallon’s involvement in the Guild is a prelude to further political involvement as many consider the UWI campus to be a reflection of Trinidad society. So does she wish to become involved in politics? “No, (laughs heartily) at least there is no political career planned (laughs again) I want to be a biochemist and work in the field of diabetes research. My dad died due to effects of the disease and I’m really driven to see less people feel the effects of it.” The resolve, the intensity, the responsibility and the blessings of God seem to be a flawless combination which predisposes Fallon to be a success in all that she puts her effort into.