8 March 19 - 25, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Art Under Attack Following UNT’s removal of an exhibit inspired by immigration and ICE, some are sounding the alarm on artistic freedom. BY WILLIAM HARRIS O n Feb. 16, students and faculty at the University of North Texas solemnly filed into the Art Building courtyard for a funeral. No person had passed, but principles had departed; the loss they mourned was their own right to speak out free from fear. Days after Brooklyn-based artist Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez’s exhibition Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá opened at the College of Vi- sual Art & Design on Feb. 3, students noticed brown paper plastered over entrance win- dows, blocking any view of the art in- side. Without telling the artist, the uni- versity had canceled his solo exhibition, which included anti- ICE protest art that blended artifacts from Mexican cul- ture, such as a pal- eta cart and a limón popsi- cle, with ICE logos modified to read “US In- humane and Cruelty Enforcement” and “I.C.E. Scream.” The First Amendment interests of indi- vidual artists do not require galleries to yield their own right to curatorial discretion. But by suddenly canceling an already-opened exhibition amid daily ICE-related news headlines, UNT is sending two clear, speech-chilling messages: The administra- tion will bend to political headwinds, and anti-ICE protest has no place on campus. Leaked transcripts of a private faculty meeting show art school dean Karen Hut- zel cited fear of political repercussions and media scrutiny as the reason for the exhibi- tion’s removal. If true, UNT grossly vio- lated its own policy, which claims “The University does not discriminate against works of art based on its content or the viewpoint(s) expressed.” Hutzel’s comments only deepen the chilling effect of UNT’s decision. She report- edly told meeting attendees that the univer- sity will “never” use its attorneys to defend an individual’s free expression. In response to a faculty question, Hutzel further sug- gested UNT may not allow individual stu- dents’ art to be displayed if it contains political messaging. Worse, this isn’t the first time that the school has allowed politically provocative art to be silenced. In March 2025, after GOP lawmakers requested student artwork with pro-Palestinian messages be removed from an ongoing exhibition, the work was gone within 48 hours. When the gal- lery finally reopened in April for a show ex- hibiting university artists, UNT transformed its entrance to resemble a high-security TSA checkpoint, complete with stanchions and ropes for crowd con- trol, disclaimer signage proclaiming pieces shown were not endorsed by the university, and grey barriers obstructing the view of the art inside for passers-by. This time, faculty and students claim the school threatened to punish professors for speaking out. “Silencing the students is not OK, especially silencing the professors,” stu- dio art major Jenny Yanez told the North Texas Daily. She added that one of her pro- fessors said, “I feel like I need to tell the stu- dents, even though I’m risking my job right now telling you this, it’s not right what they’re doing.” As a public school, the University of North Texas is bound by the First Amend- ment. It may not retaliate against faculty or students for protected expression. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Ex- pression (FIRE) wrote to UNT urging it to uphold its constitutional obligations. No American university should leave students and faculty wondering about their freedom to criticize government decisions. Yet that’s exactly what students and fac- ulty worry is happening in Texas, as political pressure from state legislators and system administrators squeezes professors out of their own classrooms. Students wrote that the decision to can- cel Quiñonez’s show “does not stand in iso- lation,” arguing it fits a broader pattern that began with the March 2025 incident involv- ing pro-Palestinian works. Since then, the letter continues, campus exhibitions have faced “a troubling pattern of interruptions and cancellations,” which has in turn “cre- ated an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear among students and employees.” In her comments to faculty, Hut- zel claimed to personally support the Qui- ñonez exhibition. She pointed to leadership purges at the University of Texas and Texas A&M University — plus widespread fears of funding cuts under ideological pressure from Texas Republicans and the Trump ad- ministration — as her rationale for going along to get along, alleging that the cancella- tion was a “directive” from an undisclosed authority. Online and across the country, outrage over the decision is palpable. The news re- port that first broke the story of Quiñonez’s cancellation — an Instagram video by Yanez — has racked up thousands of views. A Reddit thread decrying the cancellation as censor- ship has exploded with likes and comments, and news coverage has gone national. UNT might think launching a cover-up each time art is displayed on its campus will allow it to evade scrutiny. This past month proves the opposite is true. There is a crisis for artistic freedom unfolding at UNT, and students and faculty have shown they won’t be cowed. Moreover, the public is with them. UNT should publicly explain the decision- making process that led it to cancel the Qui- ñonez exhibition and issue an unambiguous statement reaffirming its commitment to free speech and unfettered artistic expression. Ei- ther that, or it should openly declare that the students holding this month’s funeral were right: Artistic freedom at UNT really is dead. William Harris is the strategic campaigns specialist at FIRE. This is his opinion. ▼ SEX & DATING REBRANDING ROMANCE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR DATING APPS IN TEXAS IS CHANGING THINGS UP… SORT OF. BY ALYSSA FIELDS T he website at the center of a data breach that unveiled thousands of il- licit, extramarital affairs a decade ago is rebranding to focus on more ethical trans- gressions. “After two decades of being synonymous with ‘married-dating,’ Ashley Madison is of- ficially turning the page,” reads a press re- lease from the app. “Today, the company announces a fundamental shift in its busi- ness model and brand identity, moving the platform away from married dating to em- brace its new position as the premier desti- nation for discreet dating.” With the rebrand comes a new tagline: “Where Desire Meets Discretion.” The app’s emphasis on “discretion” doesn’t feel too far from its prior reputation for marital indis- cretions. The change is inspired by the app’s shift- ing market. In 2025, 57% of new members were single, which Ashley Madison says is a testament to every dater’s preferences for secrecy. As of February, Ashley Madison was reportedly the most popular dating app in Texas. “In an age where our lives have been con- stantly put on public display, privacy has be- come the new luxury,” says Paul Keable, chief strategy officer, in the release. “We are offering ethical discretion to our millions of members. Whether they are single, sepa- rated, divorced or non-monogamous, our community is united by a desire to keep their private lives exactly that - private.” Ashley Madison achieved infamy in 2015 when its database was hacked, and millions of users’ personal information, including credit card details, were leaked. The data breach revealed thousands of extramarital affairs. Terrell-based Sam Rader, part of a Christian family vlog, was one of the ex- posed cheaters in the breach. Rader and his wife, Nia, have since openly discussed the leak and the several affairs that occurred in the early years of their marriage. The duo became the faces of the leak after national outlets picked up their story. How the new brand identity differs signif- icantly from the old one, we’re not really sure. No one onthe Observer’s staff has an account, or is willing to make one. But the word “ethi- cal” appears at least four times in the release. We reached out to the Ashley Madison team about the differences. We have not heard back. “THERE IS A CRISIS FOR ARTISTIC FREEDOM UNFOLDING AT UNT.” Steve Visneau An immigration-themed installation at the University of North Texas by Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez was recently removed without warning. ▼ Culture Priscilla DuPreez/Unsplash Ashley Madison, once known for being a dating app linked to adultery, is now shifting focus.
