WE ARE PASIFIKA SPARTANS!
Pasifika - transliteration of the word Pacific - was coined in New Zealand to describe the diverse indigenous migrants from the Pacific Island nations in the regions of Melanesia (Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, etc), Micronesia (Chuuk, Guam, Kosrae, Marshall Islands, Palau, Pohnpei, Saipan, Yap, etc) and Polynesia (Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Tuvalu, Niue, French Polynesia, etc) as well as Native Hawaiians. Today, Pasifika has been adopted widely by indigenous Pacific Islander community leaders, scholars, academics to claim our identity in deviance of the European explorers and cartographers who grouped and named our islands (nesia) based on the darkness of our skins (mela), the smallness of our islands (micro), and the many islands (poly). As proud members of the Pacific Islander Student Association (PISA) at San Jose State University, we stand in solidarity with our fellow Pasifika diaspora. We Are Pasifika! We Are Spartans!
Our PURPOSE
The purpose of the Pacific Islander Student Association (PISA) is to create a sense of belonging, pride, and support at San Jose State University for the Pacific Islander students of Melanesian, Micronesian, and Polynesian descent (Pasifika Spartans) and an inclusive community in solidarity with anyone interested in joining us. Enriched by our pride in the diversity of our indigenous cultures, traditions, languages, and histories, we aim to organize activities that strengthen our bonds, advocate for resources to support our personal and collective success, and educate ourselves and the larger community about the Pasifika diasporic experience.
Our HISTORY
The club was first envisioned by Kaelynn Malani who was connected with Dr. Vid Raatior, but she graduated in 2022 before it was launched. Maria Takapu and Lute Finau took up the torch and presented the vision at the first Pacific Islander Gathering on February 16, 2023 organized by the Center for Asian Pacific Islander Student Empowerment Center (CAPISE). An interest list was generated and the club's first meeting was held on April 6, 2023 at the College of Professional & Global Education (CPGE) conference room where the first club leaders were elected to make up the first Pasifika Leadership Council, aka Pasifika Leaders. The Pasifika Leaders approved the PISA Constitution & By-Laws on April 18, 2023 to officially register the club at SJSU's Student Involvement Office.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
LUTE FINAU
President
JESSICA JATTAN
Vice President
CAITLIN MILLER
Treasurer
AKI FIFITA
Secretary
CHRISTINE TAU
Social Media Director
SHANAIA STANLEY
Community Outreach Director
TOETA SALEUTOGI
Activities & Events
Co-Coordinator
AZALEA ORELLANA
Activities & Events
Co-Coordinator
MEET our members
JESSICA
I’m proudly indo-fijian! I’m also a commuter majoring in Psychology! I love trying new things wether it be activities, food, or music I’m down for it all! Family is one of most important things to me as mine are my number one supporters through everything I do!
christine
Hello everyone my name is Christine Tau. I am a first year student majoring in Business Admin. I am very excited to be apart of something great here at SJSU for us PI students. I hope to build community and take advantage of all the resources available to us.
aki
Hello and mālō e lelei everyone, my name is Akilotoa Fifita. I’m a junior student, majoring in Public Health with a minor in Nutrition. I was born here in the U.S. but raised back in Tonga, so I’m really excited to be a part of this journey to build our Pacific Islander community within SJSU alongside my fellow Pasifika Spartans.
our ADVISORS
Vid raatior, ed.d
Coordinator, Study Abroad & Exchange Programs
Dr. Vid, our club advisor, is a Chuukese international educator, social entrepreneur, and community organizer for the Micronesian diaspora in the U.S. He earned his doctoare from University of Hawaii at Manoa and currently coordinates study abroad & exchange programs in Asia and the Pacific at the College of Professional & Global Education at SJSU.
Contact: vid.raatior@sjsu.edu
neil ordinario, mlis
Information Technology Consultant, University Library at San Jose State University
Originally from Hawai'i, Neil has over 20 years of library support staff experience working in Access Services, the Institutional Repository and IT Services and has coordinated the library’s Course Reserves and e-Reserves services. He received his MLIS degree from SJSU in Spring 2018.
OUR support CENTER
CENTER FOR ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER STUDENT EMPOWERMENT (CAPISE)
We are affiliated with the Center for Asian Pacific Islander Student Empowerment (CAPISE) which "provides community-building and cultural and academic empowerment opportunities for Asian and Pacific Islander students at SJSU."
Director: Dr. Jinni Pradham, Ph.D
Program Coordinator: Mary Tran, M.A
Location: Student Union - West, 1st floor, next to Veterans Resource Center
Phone: 408-924-3674
Email: capise@sjsu.edu
Website: https://www.sjsu.edu/capise/