The MSU Board of Trustees passed a resolution Friday not to increase tuition in Spring 2004 if the state holds appropriation cuts at 3 percent or less.

But even the 3 percent cuts would be harsh on the university, which has had most of the fat carved from its budget during the state's $920 million budget shortfall, university officials said.

Fred Poston, vice president for finance and operations, said the university already has had to eliminate 19 academic programs.

"For us, there isn't anything else to carve out," he said, adding that the resolution acts as "an offering" to the state. "We'll attempt to help if you attempt to help us and recognize that we have a problem."

MSU President M. Peter McPherson said the pledge will help clarify discussions in the state.

"Clearly, further reductions are, in fact, difficult," he said.

The resolution was passed because of the efforts of students and faculty, McPherson said, such as when human biology senior Cecily Clark held up a poster stating "No more budget cuts" at the MSU-Duke basketball game Wednesday night. McPherson approached her at the game, and posed for a picture with her.

"I was shocked," she said. "When he saw it, his eyes immediately lit up and he gave me a thumbs up."

But even with the pledge, there is no guarantee that lawmakers will maintain appropriation cuts at 3 percent or lower, Trustee David Porteous said.

"With this resolution, we continue to show our commitment to cost containment to stretching revenues," Trustee David Porteous said during the board meeting. "What this says is, we're willing to do it in part if the state's will to step in and help."

The pledge is a compromise where both sides will have to bend a little, Trustee Don Nugent said.

"We've got to put a dam someplace in the floodgates," he said, adding that the war on budget cuts is far from over. "We just can't quit. This will not end the fight right now with this resolution."