Written by Katie Chandler, photos by Sinjin Delmore

Jocelyne Torres, MSU Student 

To end Latinx Month, our community member feature is on Missouri State student and activist, Jocelyne Torres.

Over the summer, thousands of people took to the streets demanding American leaders to address the systematic racism deeply embedded in the country. Here at MSU, junior Jocelyne Torres took matters into her own hands and helped create the Multicultural Students Against Systemic Racism protest that took place on September 2nd. 

“We wanted it to be a symbol of unity on campus and for the university to do more than just repeat the same things over and over in their action plans,” Torres said. “We want an action plan that is put into action.” 

While hoping the university would take action, Torres began to reflect on her initial reaction to being at MSU. 

“Growing up in a diverse community back in Kansas City, I didn’t realize how much my culture shapes and molds me… I didn’t realize that I am different until I came down for college... I started experiencing a major culture shock.” 

It was not until joining Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc. — the first multicultural sorority on campus — that she began to feel at home. Sigma Lambda Gamma is MSU’s newest sorority and was founded as a Latina-based national sorority. Now it welcomes and aims to empower women of all cultural backgrounds.  

To Torres, having that safe environment means having a place where she can be unapologetically herself. 

“It means culture is pride, and pride is success.”

Torres is currently studying to be a social worker with a double minor in diversity studies and Spanish. She currently serves as the vice president of recruitment and social media for Sigma Lambda Gamma. She is also a member of the Springfield NAACP. 

“A piece of advice I would give to younger Latinx womxn is to not be afraid to be different, and never give up. You will face challenges, but don’t let that bring you down. Take it as an obstacle course, once you get to the end, it’ll be worth it not only to you but to your community.”