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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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For years, experts warned against developing the unstable cliff top, but property owners prevailed. Now they’re paying the price.
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A controversial plaque will be placed at the city’s Central Library. Look closely and you will see it spells out "M-A-G-A."
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Evacuation orders remain in place for some areas as the risk of mudslide and debris flows remains from heavy rain overnight Thursday.
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The agency says 52% of the post-wildfire cleanup work is complete.
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Heavy rain deluged Southern California, with flood warnings and more extreme weather throughout the day.
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Auditors have referred two contracts to the Orange County district attorney and county counsel for further investigation.
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Mail carrier Thomas Carter lost his home and a car he was restoring to the Eaton Fire. But along a route he has served for decades, a community of support has formed.
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Morale at the district is low because of the impending layoffs and fear of immigration raids.
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Phase 2 of the clean up, which is optional, has started, ushering in a new chapter in what is sure to be a long road to recovery.
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The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to ask the state for a reprieve from laws that set density and energy requirements in burn zones.
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Fire danger is at critical levels in the areas, which aren’t scheduled to reopen until Feb. 1.
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Malibu schools were also closed for the day amid worries about conditions.
