In the days of elementary school art, we were told we could paint anything our imaginations created.

But apparently at Penn State, a world-renowned research institution, not all art can be so free flowing. That's the message that was sent a week ago by the university. Or was it?

It seems the saga of the cancellation of Josh Stulman's art exhibit just gets more and more confusing as the days go by. And the university still has not been clear as to why the art exhibit was canceled in the first place.

Charles Garoian, director and professor of the School of Visual Arts, canceled Stulman's art exhibit Portraits of Terror. He said it was canceled because it did not promote "cultural diversity" or opportunities for democratic dialogue" and was sponsored by an "interest group."

Now, Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon says Stulman has been given the chance to display his artwork in the School of Visual Arts, but only if he drops his Penn State Hillel sponsorship.

And furthermore, Mahon said he was not familiar with the e-mail that was sent by Garoian last Thursday, in which said the decision to cancel the exhibit came after reviewing Penn State's Policy AD42: Statement on Nondiscrimination and Harassment and Penn State's Zero Tolerance Policy for Hate.

While the university has now agreed to allow Stulman to show his exhibit, it should not have been canceled in the first place.

Or perhaps more thought should have been given prior to its approval so canceling the exhibit would even have to be considered.

Currently, it would seem as though the biggest problem university officials have with Stulman's exhibit is his affiliation with Penn State Hillel.

Stulman said he created his paintings on his own and he approached Hillel in February to help with advertising costs and food for the opening.

But what the university seems to have forgotten is that Stulman's exhibit Hodgepodge: Prints, Drawings, and Sketches also received Hillel sponsorship and was displayed in February.

This is simply another in a long list of examples that illustrates a lack of transparency and accountability from the university to its tuition-paying students

The university needs to get its act together and its story straight. As it stands now, Stulman's exhibit should have already been on display for several days.