As the student body president, Fiona Rose has a lot to remember.
To stay organized, the Michigan Student Assembly president purchased a $127.94 Franklin planner in August and was reimbursed for the expenditure from MSA's operations account.
Although Rose says the purchase was legitimate, some assembly members question whether she needed to spend nearly $130 on a planner.
"It's a perfectly legitimate office expense," Rose said, adding that she did not wish to make any further comments.
LSA Rep. Andy Schor said the purchase is "completely legal, but highly questionable."
"There were definitely less expensive planners that she could have gotten," Schor said. "While I'm not opposed to it, and I think that it's kind of an egregious expenditure of the students' money ... there was nothing illegal about it."
Roger Fisher, the assistant director for campus activities and programs and University liaison to MSA, said all assembly procedures, including Rose's purchase, have been found "sufficient" by external auditors.
"I think that there are a few people on the assembly who would like to embarrass the executive officers or discredit them for their own partisan reasons," Fisher said. "It's very, very disappointing to see attention focused on such trivial issues."
MSA Treasurer Jonathan Winick said the assembly's president leads a very hectic life, so a planner is necessary to organize Rose's commitments.
"MSA is Fiona's life," Winick said. "I think (the planner) is a net benefit for MSA."
Schor said Rose should leave the planner for her successor.
Jon Cioffi, manager of the Franklin Quest store, said the planner Rose purchased is one of the company's standard planners and does not include excessive features.
"If you wanted a binder with a zipper, that's as inexpensive as you can get," Cioffi said, adding that the cost of binders can range from $12.95 to $250.00.
The binder Rose selected cost $55.00.
Cioffi also said Rose purchased the standard filler kit for $54.00, compared to the deluxe, which costs $84.00.
Fisher said the purchase of the planner was in line with assembly policies.
"It's not an expense that is out of line for one of the executive officers to spend in the conduct of business," Fisher said, adding that he was informed about Rose's purchase before she was reimbursed.