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Yusra Farzan
What I cover
I report on issues affecting students (prospective and current), their families and communities. Some big questions I am pondering on this beat: who are higher education institutions set up to serve? Who determines who has access to these institutions? How is changing technology affecting higher education? Is access to higher education a ticket to a different trajectory in life?
My background
I didn’t think about university up until I graduated high school. Neither of my grandparents nor parents had completed college. We were residents in the UAE and that residency was dependent on my dad holding down his job. A college degree was a nice to have, not a need to have in my family. And it was only thanks to a combination of luck (Sri Lanka’s civil war ended), grit (I balanced 3 freelance jobs and a paid internship) and sheer determination (I dodged countless marriage proposals) that I graduated with a degree.
And it’s these forces that led me to complete my master’s in race and social justice reporting from USC almost a decade later. (Add a 2-year-old to the mix and grieving the sudden death of my mother.)
I previously covered Orange County for LAist.
My goals
I want to find what works and expose what doesn't, and help students and their families find solutions to their problems.
Best way to reach me
Covering Southern California’s universities and community colleges can be a lot, so I need your help in being my eyes and ears on the ground. If you have a tip, you can email me at yfarzan@laist.com or on Signal at username: @yusramf.25
Stories by Yusra Farzan
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Irvine voters head to the poll as 2025 is poised to be a year of change for the city. Three candidates are vying for the District 5 council seat.
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Due to the sheer volume and different needs of fire victims, a lot of it ended up either in landfills or being shipped abroad.
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The county could be on the hook for far more money, with more than $400 million in claims filed overall.
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The task force will target federal dollars set aside for homelessness in seven SoCal counties.
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Maznavi leaves behind a legacy of creating safe spaces for Muslim women.
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Some takeaways from the files obtained so far and what we know about the delay on other requests.
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The city is tapping a lobbying firm to make the case in D.C. for more help in shoring up a landslide that is slowly destroying entire neighborhoods.
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Sidhu was ordered to return to federal court Sept. 2, when he is expected to begin his sentence.
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In Irvine, legislative power rests in the hands of the seven-member City Council. One of those seats is up for grabs on April 15.
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The City Council also wants businesses to report ICE raid notices to the city.
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The LAPD and LA County Sheriff's Department do not collaborate with ICE but the OC Sheriff's Department does following SB54.
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Karen Bass' order directs multiple city departments to create plans to expedite rebuilding with wildfire resilience in mind.
