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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 months, landslides have worsened in parts of Rancho Palos Verdes, tearing some houses part.
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Residents in this North Tustin community want nice, friendly neighbors.
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For years, Irvine residents have complained about outdated library facilities under Orange County leadership. Now, the city is taking back control.
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Coastal California north of Santa Barbara remains under a tsunami advistory after a massive quake in eastern Russia on Tuesday.
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The latest order seeks to end federal funding to states that do not enforce bans on street camping.
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Residents will be able to learn about the update to the county’s Election Administration Plan at an event on Saturday.
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Titled Sabr at Fajr, the mural captures themes of patience, endurance and resilience.
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The breakfast burrito served up at Torrance Memorial Hospital is hearty, fresh — and cheap.
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The complaint by Aloha Financial Investment hints at the legal wrangling to come in the corruption case of the former supervisor that has rocked Orange County.
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Dozens of people turned out for a town hall Wednesday night, with nearly all voicing opposition to the moratorium plan.
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Residents get to weigh in at a town hall Wednesday on what could be a controversial designation in the Portuguese Bend area.
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The America First Legal Foundation — started by Miller — is representing the city in two lawsuits.
