Vivien Ayers

MY WORK

The Daily Texan •

News Editor emerges from Basement missing the chaos of the newsroom

It’s safe to say The Daily Texan has defined my time at college. My weekends have always consisted of researching pitches and brainstorming story angles, my weekdays of attending classes between interviews and crunching out rough drafts of stories. At night, I could be found in the Basement finishing edits of reporters’ stories and preparing to do it all again the next day. 
I would not be the journalist I am today if I had not joined The Daily Texan in the fall of my freshman year. When I was a...
The Daily Texan •

Silence on South Mall

Dear readers,
As former President Jay Hartzell wrote in the Houston Chronicle in May 2024, “There is a long, proud history of protest at The University of Texas at Austin.”
In 1944, 8,000 students marched from the Tower through downtown Austin carrying a coffin marked with the words “Academic Freedom.” In 1969, students climbed into trees to prevent their removal, in what became known as the Battle of Waller Creek. In October 2023, following attacks in Gaza, students organized vigils and classro...
The Daily Texan •

University police arrest UT employee on charge of failure to register as a sex offender

University police arrested a University employee, who is a registered sex offender in Oregon,  on Sept. 6 for what officials believe to be failure to register in Texas, a third-degree felony in the state. 
UTPD detained Nicholas Clisby, who asked to be referred to as Nicholas Clisby-Sabathia, a McCombs School of Business human resources employee. The department received a tip that he had not registered his sex offender status within seven days of moving to Texas as required by state law despite...
Austin American-Statesman •

Bee Cave residents speak out against industrial development outside city

Serene Hills resident Kelli Tejada was among the 32 Bee Cave residents who spoke before the City Council meeting on Aug. 27 to urge the members to continue to try to stop a distribution center from being built just outside the city.

Serene Hills resident Kelli Tejada was among the 32 Bee Cave residents who spoke before the City Council meeting on Aug. 27 to urge the members to continue to try to stop a distribution center from being built just outside the city.

“We chose to live here," Tejada...
Austin American-Statesman •

Sales tax revenue steady, Bee Cave City Council told

The revenue budget is not finalized and is constantly changing as numbers for the end of the current fiscal year are coming in, said city Finance Director Travis Askey. However, he said a few adjustments, such as a reclassification and redistribution of interest earnings and a more conservative estimate of building and development revenue, are included in the budget.

The revenue budget is not finalized and is constantly changing as numbers for the end of the current fiscal year are coming in, s...
Austin American-Statesman •

Bee Cave City Council votes to delay raise in gas rates

The Bee Cave City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution to suspend for up to 90 days a proposed raise of gas rates.

The Bee Cave City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution to suspend for up to 90 days a proposed raise of gas rates.

Texas Gas Service filed an application on June 3 with the Texas Railroad Commission, which handles the state’s oil and gas municipalities, to raise its rates. The application asks to raise rates for all individually operated areas, incl...
Austin American-Statesman •

Bee Cave watering restrictions expected to be eased

Bee Cave residents should expect to be able to water their lawns twice a week this summer instead of the current once-a-week restrictions because of recent rains, the City Council was told on Tuesday.

Bee Cave residents should expect to be able to water their lawns twice a week this summer instead of the current once-a-week restrictions because of recent rains, the City Council was told on Tuesday.

Jack Creveling, vice president of the West Travis County Public Utility Agency, which provides w...
Austin American-Statesman •

Bee Cave amends city codes with eye on affordable housing

The codes, called the Unified Development Code, were initially ratified in the summer of 2022, said Jenny Hoff, the city's communications director, and the amendments to the subdivision and zoning chapters are the first to address clerical errors, provide clarification and to adjust the codes to match recent changes to state law.

The codes, called the Unified Development Code, were initially ratified in the summer of 2022, said Jenny Hoff, the city's communications director, and the amendments...
Austin American-Statesman •

Bee Cave OKs police services contract with Lakeway

The resolution allows each city’s police forces to assist the other if needed, such as in emergencies or staffing shortages, said Bee Cave Police Chief Brian Jones. He said that in his three years in the position, there has been no such agreement and the last one like it expired in 2018.

The resolution allows each city’s police forces to assist the other if needed, such as in emergencies or staffing shortages, said Bee Cave Police Chief Brian Jones. He said that in his three years in the positi...
The Daily Texan •

‘The energy of the future’: The discourse surrounding state-endowed oil fields, investments

“What starts here changes the world” — the University’s motto brands all promotional materials and is a hallmark of the school itself. 
What starts here does change the world, but not in the way many think. It starts with academic and research resources, scholarships and campus operating expenses, which are partially funded by the 2.1 million acres of oil and gas fields located hundreds of miles away in West Texas.
These lands comprise the Permanent University Fund, a revenue source given to the...
Austin American-Statesman •

Bee Cave's unified trash collection goes into effect May 1

In December, the city authorized the formation of a uniform waste disposal contract between the two entities because of pricing and scheduling irregularities in waste management for single-family residences within city limits. Previously, homeowner associations and individuals had chosen their waste management companies.

In December, the city authorized the formation of a uniform waste disposal contract between the two entities because of pricing and scheduling irregularities in waste managemen...
The Daily Texan •

Checking in on the University’s original waste diversion, sustainability promise 10 years later

In Littlefield Fountain, at least 50 champagne corks float in the water as the aftermath of students’ graduation photoshoots. A forgotten receipt from the William C. Powers Activity Center Chick-fil-A location whistles in a slight breeze as it lies in the grass outside the building. Water bubbles in East Campus’ Waller Creek as it’s forced to trickle around the plastic casing of a 24-pack of Sparkle Purified Water wrapped around the East 23rd Street Bridge.
The Sustainability Tracking, Assessmen...
Austin American-Statesman •

Bee Cave calls for disaster declaration ahead of eclipse

The declaration gives the mayor authority to request state funding if needed during the eclipse. “We don’t want to cause alarm, but this is an important move to ensure we can use all the tools we have available to be prepared for this influx of people to the area,” said Bee Cave Mayor Kara King.

The declaration gives the mayor authority to request state funding if needed during the eclipse. “We don’t want to cause alarm, but this is an important move to ensure we can use all the tools we have a...
Austin American-Statesman •

Bee Cave OK's using effluent water to irrigate Central Park

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, effluent water is wastewater that is reclaimed and treated before being redispersed for public use. Bee Cave City Manager Clint Garza said that under the approved agreement, the city would provide maintenance services for the drip-irrigation systems the West Travis County Public Utility Agency would install using its own funds.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, effluent water is wastewater that is reclaimed and treated before bei...
The Daily Texan •

‘I’m not going to disappear’: Family of police violence victim file formal complaint against city

“I’m lost with words, but it’s okay, it’s going to be okay,” Elizabeth Gonzales said at a press conference on Jan. 30 after the deposition from her federal lawsuit against the city and the individual officers involved in the death of her son, Alexander Gonzales Jr., was made public.
Gonzales was shot 18 times by off-duty Austin Police officer Gabriel Gutierrez and responding officer Luis Serrato on the morning of Jan. 5, 2021. Gonzales’ girlfriend, Jessica Arellano, and their infant were also in...
Austin American-Statesman •

Clint Garza stepping down as Bee Cave city manager

Garza has accepted another job in the state, though it was not announced where. He will continue in his position in Bee Cave for six weeks. Officials said the city will begin the hiring process to fill the role within the next few weeks, including naming an interim city manager.

Garza has accepted another job in the state, though it was not announced where. He will continue in his position in Bee Cave for six weeks. Officials said the city will begin the hiring process to fill the role within t...
Austin American-Statesman •

Bee Cave City Council gets update on water preparedness for summer

City Manager Clint Garza said residents have expressed concern over the city’s water conservation efforts as water levels and availability are affected by sudden changes in weather. Garza said that since the last freeze in February, the West Travis County Public Utility Agency has spent over $1 million to install generators at city pump stations to guarantee power at water plants.

City Manager Clint Garza said residents have expressed concern over the city’s water conservation efforts as water...
Austin American-Statesman •

Bee Cave OKs contract to unify trash pickup

Individual residents and neighborhood associations negotiate contracts with waste collection services for residencies, according to Rebecca Reguiera, executive assistant to the city manager. This causes issues, Mayor Kara King said, as the city is unable to step in and assist residents with waste pickup during weather catastrophes like the winter ice storm in January that acted as catalyst for the contract.

Individual residents and neighborhood associations negotiate contracts with waste collec...
Austin American-Statesman •

Bee Cave to seek funding for trail, crosswalk along Parkway

Along with the trail, the city is wanting to implement a pedestrian crossing, including crosswalk stripes, across Bee Cave Road. The two proposed updates are a part of the pedestrian improvements planned along Bee Cave Parkway from Market Street to the intersection with Bee Cave Road, for which the city is seeking funding.

Along with the trail, the city is wanting to implement a pedestrian crossing, including crosswalk stripes, across Bee Cave Road. The two proposed updates are a part of the pe...
The Daily Texan •

UT experts emphasize mental health resources during heightened stress

Around the world, the end of November is usually a time of joy — temperatures are dropping, the holidays are approaching and school is almost out for break. But college students experience a completely different feeling shaped by finals, graduation and spring course registration. 
This year, academic life is no different, but the world is. 
Campus life has been irrevocably altered by social tensions. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that has claimed over 10,000 lives, the approaching imp...
Austin American-Statesman •

Bee Cave hires firm for new library build

The city hired the company to fulfill the construction manager-at-risk role for the build, initiating the pre-construction phase as the city is now able to begin the design phase of the new library, said Chelsea Maldonaldo, project manager at collaborator Turner & Townsend Heery.

The city hired the company to fulfill the construction manager-at-risk role for the build, initiating the pre-construction phase as the city is now able to begin the design phase of the new library, said Chelsea Maldon...
The Daily Texan •

‘It’s just a different type of heat’: UT students reflect on water accessibility, usage under Austin’s drought restrictions

In mid-August, the city of Austin announced its move into Stage 2 water restrictions, including water accessibility and use limits because of extreme drought conditions dropping water levels in Austin-area lakes.
The restrictions include limiting irrigation and hose-watering to once a week, requiring restaurants to wait for customers to request water rather than serving it automatically and prohibiting large ornamental fountains, like the Littlefield Fountain, from running. At the University, st...
The Daily Texan •

UT students question the future of DEI offices following state ban

The fate of diversity, equity and inclusion offices has been looming in the minds of UT students, staff and faculty since Senate Bill 17 was signed on June 17.
The UT Systems Board of Regents voted Aug. 24 to amend the Regents Rules so University campuses — including UT — can begin adjusting their own internal regulations to comply with the bill’s Jan. 1, 2024 deadline. The vote passed unanimously, despite UT students protesting the legislation at the meeting. 
“Thank you for being here; thanks...
The Daily Texan •

UN report concerning global warming ignites ethical debate of UT’s reliance on fossil fuels

The United Nations released a report on March 20 warning that if countries maintain their current carbon emissions rates, the planet will reach the maximum temperature to sustain life by the end of the decade — a revelation that may force high polluters to adapt their environmental standards.

“Humanity is on thin ice — and that ice is melting fast,” U.N. secretary-general António Guterres said in a video statement. “The climate time-bomb is ticking.”

The 2023 U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Cl...
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