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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 move comes ahead of Saturday's No Kings protests.
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Restaurants share resources in the food hall in West Adams as Los Angeles reckons with increasing restaurant closures.
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The police department filed an emergency order ahead of this Saturday's No Kings protest.
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This is the one time you can do this legally!
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Using sidewalks and parking lot started as a way to help restaurants during the pandemic. Two news laws aim to help a still-struggling industry.
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Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain.
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The landslide is not connected to the greater Portuguese Bend landslide, city officials said.
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The funds will go toward first-time homebuying assistance and emergency assistance money to keep people in their homes.
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A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
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The study aims to look at how stormwater collects in the landslide area — and whether it can be directed elsewhere.
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He leaves behind a legacy of community service, mentorship and interfaith advocacy.
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The Los Angeles Police Department and Department of Homeland Security are barred from using weapons such as foam bullets and tear gas 'carte blanche' after a federal judge issued preliminary injunctions.
