In response to “Tuition increases remain modest” (Feb. 14), by Molly LaPoint:

Your article "Tuition Increases Remain Modest"  seems narrow in scope and I would like to expand on it to give readers a better understanding.

Pro:  Boston College 2010-11 tuition increased 3.2 percent from the previous year compared to other private universities who saw an average increase of 4.5 percent.

Con: BC tuition and fees ($40,542) is already 48.5 percent higher than the average of private nonprofit four-year colleges ($27,293) according to CollegeBoard.

Pro: The increase in tuition prices was the second lowest at the University in the past 35 years.

Con: In 2010, the CPI Index (a leading indicator of inflation) increased only 1.5 percent and the Fed has recently targeted inflation at 1.7-2.0 percent.

One of Mark Twain's most famous quotes reads, "There are lies, damned lies and statistics." While the administration can be commended in their efforts to get the university's budget in-line, there is still nothing rosy about the rising costs of tuition prices in this nation or at Boston College.

Richard Mackesy

CSOM '11