She’s Belgian and German; she’s a violinist, a human rights activist, a photographer, and Associated Student Government’s new Vice President of Student Affairs and Pluralism.
Janina Klein was hired as the new Vice President after Luis Sanchez resigned from his post due to time management difficulties.
Klein was offered the position after an extensive application and interview process. She was hired by ASG President Joseph Root, Vice President of Finance and Communications Chapman Chung, Environmental and Social Responsibility Representative Carolyn DeWitt, and Chief Justice Bernard Ellouk.
Klein has been a student at BC since fall quarter 2008 and has been involved in BC’s Amnesty International chapter. She was the club’s president fall quarter 2009. Klein has also frequented many events on campus.
“I’m an International Studies major and the subject is very endearing to me,” said Klein concerning why she became interested in the VP position.
“I’m really oriented about others and I want to bring people together and have people understand each other better and have better communication and just … I want people to understand each other better especially during our time now, it’s so important to be globally aware of different issues and different countries and different ways of thinking,” said Klein.
The fellow ASG officers will spend a lot of their time working with Klein and showing her the ropes.
On why the Board hired her, “[Klein] has demonstrated a clear passion for pluralism and diversity and exhibits strong characteristics that we believe will lead us to further improve the campus community,” said Root.
According to DeWitt, “[Klein] is qualified because of her passionate outlook on different cultures and different people. She also had a great interview where she showed she had a unique outlook on life. She is the president of the Amnesty International club which shows her leadership skills and work ethic.”
As stated on ASG’s page on BC’s website, “The ASG VP Student Affairs and Pluralism shall work collaboratively with BC administration, faculty, and staff to promote pluralism, fair practices, and equal access for all students to education and campus resources.”
Klein will have a variety of responsibilities as the new VP, but feels that she can bring certain qualities to ASG.
“I can bring my personal knowledge and experiences as well as listening to other people and getting their ideas heard because that’s what it’s about, because you’re representing so many people and you want to listen to others and what they want and what they need, so that’s important to me, especially the minority …” said Klein.
Klein started working last Monday, Feb. 8. “I like getting to meet people, and I like the energy of the ASG and the ideas that are going back and forth so I like it a lot, and I feel like I can contribute to what’s going on,” said Klein.
The new VP also looks forward to working as an officer. “I’m excited to meet students and hear their ideas on what they want to see on the campus changed or to be done,” said Klein.
Klein has the remainder of the year to prove herself as the new VP of Student Affairs and Pluralism.