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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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Sheriff's officials have door-to-door searches with cadaver dogs underway in daylight hours.
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LAPD suspends resident visits to fire area as search for more bodies continues. The fire, which has killed 11 people, has burned through more than 23,500 acres.
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Red flag warnings kicked in Tuesday morning.
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If CalOptima joins, it will create a sixth coverage option so members can stick to the same doctors they’re used to.
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A lawsuit filed against the city alleges the current at-large model disenfranchises Latino residents.
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Volunteers clean up after the horses on the parade route to make sure it’s safe and sanitary.
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Pasadena’s most widely-known spectacle — officially the Tournament of Roses — showcased its signature floral-festooned parade floats.
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Play places host these events for the youngest residents.
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The ending of federal and state COVID relief dollars, as well as declining enrollment, has resulted in a massive budget deficit.
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Nearly a year after LAist started investigating what happened to millions in taxpayer dollars, Do pleaded guilty to federal charges and resigned as an O.C. supervisor. Here are key takeaways from our investigation.
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LibroMobile is a community arts, culture and history hub run by the city’s youth.
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Dry weather and the city’s dewatering efforts have contributed to the slowdown, even as the area affected by the landslide has roughly doubled.
