Lately, things haven't been so picture-perfect for students studying photography. At a meeting yesterday in the Visual Arts building, Denton Smith (senior-graphic design and photography) spoke to a group of about 30 photography students who voiced grievances about the plans for a new photography lab that had quietly been axed over the summer.

The lab had been slated for ground breaking last March. Smith said he had only learned of the cancellation a few weeks ago.

"We were told we were going to receive a new building, and now we're not," he said.

Smith and other students said the photography department is in desperate need of an upgrade. Several students said the photo lab isn't much better than the labs in their high schools. Their complaints included outdated equipment, a lack of equipment and studio space, unclean working areas, and not enough professors for the number of students.

Keith Shapiro, assistant professor of art, said over the summer he discovered a private contractor in the photo lab improving the ventilation, and asked him why that was necessary when a new photo lab was being built. The contractor gave him the bad news.

"He says, 'No, that's not gonna happen,' " Shapiro said.

Charles Garoian, director of the school of Visual Arts, also attended the meeting. Students asked Garoian if he could tell them what happened to the building project.

"I do know who canned the project," Garoian said, "and it was canned from higher up in Old Main."

Garoian said he was told the location of the proposed building, between the Patterson and Armsby buildings, was a problem. The realization that complex underground plumbing and electricity work would be necessary were some of the reasons he was told the building was canceled.

Although he sympathized with students' grievances, he urged them to carefully consider the issue.

"Buildings are promised and taken away all the time by Old Main," he said.

Garoian said students should realize the photography department has always been small and certain majors that are more popular at Penn State, such as engineering and chemistry, receive more funding.

"There is an attitude about the arts that it is not a serious enterprise as a discipline," Garoian said.

Smith and others said despite these attitudes, they will continue their fight.

"Just because I'm an artist, I'm not going to just lay down and roll over," Smith said.

To get the word out, the students have put together a petition for signatures in support of the new building. They are also contacting alumni, sending out leaflets, and creating a Web page that will outline their cause.

"We want to eventually meet with Graham Spanier," Smith said.

Students said even if they don't get the new building, they would be grateful for any improvements to the photography major. Currently, no portfolio is necessary to enter the major. Some students believe requiring a portfolio could narrow down the amount of students enrolled in the major and increase competition.

However, many students said their high school training would not have been enough for preparing portfolios to enter the major their freshman year, and if one had been required they would never have been able to enter the program.

"This is more complex than a building," Garoian said.

Vanessa Sherman (sophomore-advertising), is minoring in photography. She said a combination of quality space as well as instruction is ideal.

"We're here because we care about this, but we know it can be better," Sherman said.