Simpdy Merelan is the program director of Survivor Support & Violence Prevention (SSVP). Merelan attended Rutgers University-New Brunswick to receive her Bachelor of Arts in African Studies & English and her Master of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies. On Monday, Nov. 11, Merelan was interviewed about why she chose to come to Centenary and what SSVP means to her. I sat with Simpdy to learn more about her mission and impact at Centenary.

Why did you decide to come to Centenary University?

This is my fourth institution that I've been working at that dealt with the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women Campus Program Project (VAWCPP). When I heard that Centenary was awarded the grant, I thought this would be a great way for me to continue in the field in terms of doing anti-violence work. Then, also, for me to move up because there was a director position, program director position, as opposed to a coordinator position. Those are the two main reasons why I decided to apply for the Survivor Support and Violence Prevention Program Director position.

What does SSVP mean to you?

SSVP means to me the calling for safer spaces for survivors of gender-based violence. It's a calling for men in terms of, instead of being on the perpetrator side of crimes, being more so on the mobilizing and eradication side of these crimes. When I talk about crimes, I'm talking about sexual harassment; I'm talking about sexual assault; I'm talking about stalking; I'm talking about domestic violence. It's a call for people to take care of one another, check-in, not be bystanders, intervene when they see red flags, and mobilize each other around these issues.

Why do you think Centenary needs a program like SSVP on campus?

Centenary needs a program like this because, when we talk about gender-based violence, it has no face. It has no race; it has no sex, or gender. It happens to any one of us, regardless of our socioeconomic backgrounds. Some of us may come to campus with prior experience with gender-based violence. Some of us may be co-survivors where we have family or loved ones who have been affected by violence. And so it's really important that we have resources and we have education as it pertains to serving these survivors. 

So it's really important for us to be at the forefront of these issues. We're being proactive in terms of addressing gender-based violence. And so that's why it's important to have a program like SSVP on campus.

What was the inspiration for your first event at Centenary, and why?

I believe my first event that I did was a workshop called Let's Talk About Consent. I was a ‘80s/‘90s baby, and Salt-N-Pepa was the inspiration behind the training. The training dealt with consent and sexual violence prevention. Salt-N-Pepa had a song they came out with, a hit called “Let's Talk About Sex,” where they talked about the positive and negative sides of being sexually active. 

I wanted to continue this conversation that Salt-N-Pepa started in the ‘90s and the safer spaces that they created to talk about these issues for people. And that's why I came up with Let's Talk About Consent.

At the end of each event, what do you want every student and staff to take away from it?

I want every student and staff to know that they play a part in this movement to eradicate gender-based violence. It's not just one person's responsibility on a campus or in the community. It's all of our responsibility, especially if we have certain expectations and we say that we do not tolerate any form of violence.

It's really important that we come together as one, as a community, to address this issue.

If a student has a personal issue, are most students willing to come to your office to talk about it?

I would like to think that when it comes to SSVP, we've done a good job at creating a safe space for people to move forward with their healing journey and to seek support. I would say, yes, that students feel comfortable. If they do not feel comfortable, I also want them to know that there are other resources on campus, like The Counseling Center, like campus police or public safety, that can assist them as well to do their journey.

Beyond helping students navigate college, what are some of your favorite hobbies?

One of my favorite hobbies is working with clay. I sculpt. I enjoy doing that as a way of taking care of myself and to deal with stress. 

I love to shop, even though my wallet tells me I should stop doing it. I do love a good sale and a good bargain. I like thrifting as well.

If a student wants to join your program, what would they have to do?

Well, they would simply fill out an application stating that they're interested in serving as a peer educator or as a volunteer. Within the application packet, they are also required to fill out a questionnaire just so I can get a better sense of why they're interested in the position or volunteering, their background,  what they want to bring to the experience, and what they hope to gain from it.

From there, if I don't know the student well, most likely I would set a one-on-one appointment meeting with them, just so I can talk to them further and get a better sense again of who they are and how their interests match the work that we do here at SSVP.

What’s some general life advice you would give to students?

My advice is that no one has to feel that they have to provide a justification or reason behind them struggling with a life experience. 

I think that the human experience is about dealing with the emotions, not only just with physical aspects and spiritual aspects of life, but the emotional aspects and understand that when we have experiences that are negative. They can be traumatic and leave some residue. In order for us to address the residue, it's really important that we reach out to support systems that are in place like SSVP, the Counseling Center, the Dean of Students, or even Campus Police, and Public Safety for support. 

I would like all students to know, when it comes to dealing with these challenging matters, they don't have to feel that they have to explain what has happened but know that there are resources that can assist them in whichever way they want to handle what has happened to them.

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If any student needs emotional support or someone just to talk to, Merelan will always welcome any student with any of those problems. Her office is in the Seay building located in Student Life. Come out to any SSVP event. Events happen every month, so keep an eye out.