The annual Village Fair hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will rock the CSU-Mt Panorama precinct from 3pm on Saturday 23 March. CSU student support officer and event organiser, Ms Alex Leis, said “The Village Fair in its 39th year in 2013, and is the largest locally-run music festival in the NSW central west. This year, as well as the main stage featuring acts like Drapht and Yacht Club DJs, there is an open-air silent disco* featuring up-and-coming local DJs. Other bands and performers include Strange Talk, Fozzey & Vanc, The Griswolds, Peacock Dreams, Rainbow Rd, and Blue Red Army. Tickets are currently on sale through moshtix or the CSU cashiers, and will be available on the day at the gate.” The CSU Village Fair is only for music lovers aged 18 and over, and the music kicks off at 3pm Saturday 23 March at the site between CSU and Mt Panorama’s Pit Straight. The CSU Village Fair is funded by the Mitchell Student Guild.

High school students in the NSW Mid-North Coast, central and southern NSW and regional Victoria can learn vital life skills while running a simulated business in an online game to be hosted by Charles Sturt University’s Faculty of Business. The GameOn! organisers at CSU are now calling for teams of Years 10 and 11 students from high schools around regional NSW and Victoria to participate in the game in 2013. The game was first staged in 2012. “The student teams will make vital business decisions about marketing, human resources, operations and finance for an online, simulated business. Apart from developing problem-solving skills in their businesses, GameOn allows students to develop important life skills such as leadership, group work, critical thinking, negotiation and time management,” said GameOn coordinator Dr Abbey Dwivedi.  Teams will need to be nominated by the extended deadline of Friday 5 April, with eight rounds of ‘decisions’ to be made during the year and winning teams due to be announced in September 2013.

Some of the cognitive, cultural and biological reasons for belief in extraordinary phenomena will be examined at a seminar for staff and students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Wednesday 16 May. Dr Krissy Wilson, a lecturer at the CSU School of Psychology who established a new research unit called the Science of Anomalistic Phenomena (SOAP) at CSU in March this year, will present the seminar. “Consistent and wide-spread belief in the paranormal is a striking facet of the human condition, and belief in phenomena that contradict known scientific laws and principles is a common feature of all western societies,” Dr Wilson said. “There is little evidence to suggest that widespread paranormal beliefs are on the wane, and recent polls tend to suggest that such commonly held beliefs are on the increase. Whatever the truth might be, and whatever reasons people might have about why they believe, there can be little doubt that believers are not basing their beliefs upon scientific evidence. Indeed, most of the evidence put forward to support paranormal claims is anecdotal and open to alternative explanations.”

What combines physical theatre, live music, acrobatics, comedy, verbatim dialogue, multimedia, and a huge ball that people walk on? The answer is ‘What do you think?’, a 45-minute performance devised by second-year Charles Sturt University (CSU) theatre/media students which plays at the Ponton Theatre at CSU in Bathurst from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 August. “When was the last time you saw a show that took what you were thinking and put it on a stage?,” asks Mr Dan Aubin, lecturer in theatre/media at the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries. “This work of short, dynamic, entertaining scenes set in a fantastic pop art design projection explores everyday thoughts in comparison to everyday actions. There is something in the show for everyone, and we invite you to come along and show your support for these talented students who gathered the material and created the content. The students have created some exciting pieces of theatre that go beyond a peripheral response to our immediate culture. They have found an entertaining physical and symbolic language full of deep meaning and whimsy.” The production is suitable for all ages, and tickets ($5 for students, $10 for non-students) can be purchased at the door or by phoning 0402 649 439.

A political philosophy forum hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Canberra on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 July will examine a range of issues about political rights and responsibilities when it asks, 'What's so special about having a democracy?'. The convener of the ‘Democratic Rights – Democratic Duties’ academic forum is Dr Piero Moraro, lecturer in justice studies at the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Bathurst and a research fellow at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics. "The forum will see academics from Australia and overseas debate a range of issues," Dr Moraro said. “Some will argue that a genuinely democratic society shouldn't grant the right to vote to everyone. Others will claim that truly democratic citizens, under some circumstances, should disobey the law. But could the duty to obey the law, and the duty to vote, be the wrong duties to focus on, as they might also undermine democracy?” The ‘Democratic Rights – Democratic Duties’ academic roundtable in political philosophy is at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture 15 Blackall Street, Barton, Canberra, and is funded through a Compact Grant from the CSU Faculty of Arts and by CAPPE.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) theatre media  students at the School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst have collaborated with Bathurst Arts Theatrical Society (BATS) to produce the hilarious Five Woman Wearing the Same Dress. Set at a wedding, Five Woman Wearing the Same Dress is a comedy about five bridesmaids who, in spite of their differences, discover that they have more in common with each other than the bride. Co-director Ms Clare Hennessy said, “This comedy follows a group of women who have been brought together to form a disjointed bridal party. The play takes place in the bedroom of the bride’s sister as the bridesmaids each escape the overdone bridal reception. They banter behind the bride’s back about the horrid dresses they are forced to wear as they each share twisted tales of treachery. The show is equal parts hilarious, irreverent and disarmingly heartfelt - a saucy affair. Don’t miss it.” Five Woman Wearing the Same Dress will be performed nightly at 7pm from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 July as a double bill with the BATS production of Slut. Enjoy a night of comedy, two shows for the price of one – tickets $5 available at the door of the Ponton Theatre (building N3) at CSU, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will host 60 Year 9 students from Blayney Public School, Portland Central School, and Denison College for a 'Future Directions Day' on Friday 19 July. The day is part of CSU’s Future Moves Program, which works at building aspiration for higher education amongst school students in regional NSW and Victoria. Ms Tonya Graham, Future Moves coordinator said, “The Future Directions Day will be the first of its kind to target Year 9 students. By introducing young people to a university campus and enabling them to interact with university students and staff we’re hoping to encourage them to consider tertiary education as a realistic and accessible option. We want to trigger conversations about post-school options early so that students see university as a realistic pathway and feel confident with the career choices they make.” Students will participate in interactive workshops from 10am-2.30pm assisted by CSU staff in various areas, including robotics, paramedics and political science. Students will also tour the campus and have lunch in the University dining hall like university students. Read more about Future Moves here.

Twenty Charles Sturt University (CSU) students from Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga will receive scholarships worth more than $100 000 from the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) Foundation during a ceremony on Thursday 18 July. The RAS Foundation awarded 49 Rural Scholarships in 2013 – a record number – with recipients coming from various educational institutions across NSW. The CSU students are studying a range of courses including agricultural science, agricultural business management, education, equine science, journalism, medical radiation science, physiotherapy and veterinary science. RAS Foundation Rural Scholarships support students who are undertaking post-high school study or training, show a passion for rural issues and who are committed to playing a part in shaping the future of rural and regional NSW. The ceremony will be held on Thursday 18 July from 6pm to 8.30pm at the National Wine and Grape Centre, building 412, McKeown Drive, CSU in Wagga Wagga.

A community development project lead by Charles Sturt University (CSU) students aims to improve the life skills of selected senior high school students in Bathurst so they have better opportunities to succeed in life. In an initiative of the Faculty of Business, CSU undergraduate students working with the Enactus program will assist selected Year-10, 11 and 12 Kelso High School students in the ‘Fulfilling Individuals’ Talent’ (FIT) project. Associate Professor PK Basu at the CSU School of Accounting and Finance, said, “FIT targets about 10 underprivileged students who are struggling but are engaged and have potential. The program will complement the school curriculum by allowing students to focus on the key areas of education, employability and life skills. Activities will be targeted to meet the needs of the group, but may involve guest speakers from the community, goal setting, and resumé preparation.” The first session of the project began on Friday 19 July and will continue for the rest of this year with the group meeting fortnightly for sessions of about 60-minutes at the Kelso High Campus of Denison College.