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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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Overcast clouds will make way for sunny skies.
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Bundle up, temps are falling. Also, L.A. County could be in for some rain later in the week.
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Freeway closures are due to the installation of concrete barriers.
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Known for its elaborate light displays, this year, the neighborhood is expecting a bigger crowd tied to the release of “Candy Cane Lane” on Amazon Prime Video.
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Authorities say the plans are in response to a rash of brazen retail thefts.
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The nonnative weeds are also a fire hazard that go especially mobile during Santa Ana wind events.
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The school board passed the policy despite a student representative, teacher organization and parents speaking out against it.
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The move comes after nearby residents had long complained of foul odors from the property.
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Fire damage led to the indefinite closure of the freeway.
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The county has seen a 12% increase in the unhoused veterans population.
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The 10 Freeway opens just over a week after a fire shut down a key stretch near downtown L.A.
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One business owner says it will take her five to 10 years to recover.
