President Robert Brown’s March 12 letter to parents and students announcing an increase in tuition and basic room and board costs stirred a variety of reactions among the Boston University community.

Although the letters boasted that the 3.75 percent tuition increase for the 2009-10 academic year is the lowest in more than 40 years, many students said they think it will be a heavy burden on families already struggling with the recession.

‘Boston University’s feeling the pressure, surely they must know students are as well,’ College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Caitlin McGuire said. ‘I pay for a large part of my tuition, so this will have a huge effect on me.’

If the increase in tuition leads to an increase in financial aid applicants and a subsequent decrease in the aid given to each student, she might have to reconsider continuing her education at BU, she said.

Students whose parents pay for the majority of tuition said they are also concerned.

‘I already feel like I’m burdening my family a lot with the current tuition, and this increase makes me feel like I can contribute even less,’ CAS sophomore Chelsea Bartram said.

Bartram said she has plans to eventually pay her parents back and anticipates the increase will make that task all the more difficult.

College of Engineering junior Steven Lee said he thinks in the current recession, administrators should not be raising its tuition.

‘I f- – -ing hate it,’ he said. ‘In this financial crisis, it should at least stay as it is.’

Some students remain unaffected for the following academic year, but they said they are concerned about looming future expenses.

‘I have a scholarship that will hopefully increase with the tuition,’ CAS freshman Jill Thorsen said. ‘However, I’m worried for the years to come, since I’m planning on going to medical school.’

CAS sophomore Emile Fares said although his grandparents are currently covering his tuition expenses, he is also unhappy with the increase.

‘I kind of expected it,’ he said. ‘I’m very pessimistic about the administration when it comes to money. I feel like BU is run like a corporation rather than an academic institution.

‘I know it will be paid for, but it’s frustrating.’

Parents said they also anticipated the increase and are finding ways to cope.

‘I’ve heard all the top schools have had tuition increases,’ said Kathleen Moreau, whose daughter, Julie Moreau, is a CAS sophomore. ‘I work in the public schools, and I realize how hard teachers and professors work. I hope some of the tuition increase will go to the professors.’

Moreau said is worried about the increase because she will be sending two more of her children to college in the next three years, but she thinks BU is worth it.

‘The bottom line is this is our daughter’s education,’ she said. ‘It was her first choice, and it doesn’t matter if we think the increase is fair because this is where she wants to be.’