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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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The Irvine landfill’s operations will increase after the closure of another landfill in Brea.
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The proposed changes will result in around $156 million in savings and revenue increases
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Crews will now assess the grounds for safety, next steps.
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Previously, developments in the Lacy and Downtown neighborhoods have driven out residents and businesses.
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Library access in the second most populous city in O.C. is limited.
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The Israel-Hamas war protest has been ongoing for about six weeks now.
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West had a storied career with the Lakers as a player, coach and manager.
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The move comes a year after the city ended the COVID emergency orders.
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25 people were arrested after confronted by police.
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One in eight children in Orange County are food insecure and depend on school lunches.
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The language could cast the measure in a favorable light, according to a lawsuit filed against the city.
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Contractors have a week to submit proposals
