If you look past the public-relations spin of Boston University spokesman Colin Riley (“Tuition increases necessary to offset rising costs,” March 31, p.8), you’ll see that the 5.29 percent tuition hike is once again over 1.5 times the rate of inflation, just as it has been every year since I arrived in 2003. If every business adjusted their prices like this, you’d soon be seeing $50,000 Honda Civics and $100 Dominos pizzas. That sort of practice isn’t what I would call “sound.”

Also, Mr. Riley, you should clarify that university-provided financial aid is only increasing for incoming students, not current ones. BU doesn’t mind devaluing scholarships with bigger costs once students get in.

If President Robert Brown needs a quick fix for those budgetary challenges, he could start excavating marble from the quarries of the School of Management. Who knows, maybe the trustees could dig up a surprise $1.8 million under that shiny floor and buy us all a bottle of champagne for Mr. Brown’s inauguration. Cheers to your administration, Mr. Riley. We all know you’ve earned it.

Clifford Atiyeh COM ’07