One day after the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 10,000 for the first time this year, the market experienced its biggest one-day percentage drop since July 2. According to analysts, a significant decline in consumer spending may have fueled the latest downturn.

Given the economic climate, it's logical to expect that consumers would be wary to shell out the dollars for purchases beyond basic necessities. Yet, despite an equally precarious financial situation on this campus, the ASUC Senate continues to defy this logic and spend the money it should be saving as a precaution for an impending crisis.

After spending roughly two-thirds of the fund it uses to allocate money to student groups in just two meetings, the ASUC Senate has about $1,500-which is less than 10 percent-of the fund left. Though this depletion can be offset by transferring funds from its carry-forward reserves, as has been done in the past, this would be a financially irresponsible move.

Student groups are clearly feeling the pain of the recession, and seeking more support from the ASUC to help them (make it through) this difficult time. But with the senate constantly raiding its reserves to replenish the contingency fund, these groups will lose out in the long run when the senate lacks the resources to provide any funding or undertake any serious capital expenditures in years to come.

Though it makes sense to use reserves to tide things over until the economy gets better and student groups can better fend for themselves, it's unacceptable for the senate's irresponsible spending to become a trend. It's exactly this problem of overspending that brought about the creation of the Auxiliary in the first place.

ASUC senators represent our student body to the administration and the larger university community. As they continuously demonstrate their lack of financial foresight, it could threaten the independent status of the student government as well as discourage administrators from including students' input on important budgetary decisions that affect us all.