Five outstanding Riverina high school students will embark on a multicultural experience of a lifetime when they represent the Charles Sturt University (CSU) at the World Youth Leadership Conference at Burlington, Canada from 27 April until 6 May. Vanessa McCormick, Amanda Dacey, Murray Le Lievre and Ryan Smith from Mount Austin High School and Kooringal High School’s Tara Bryan will meet with Head of CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus Professor David Green on Friday March 23 at 10am. The theme of the 2007 conference is “Youth Leading Communities - Making a Difference”. Over one thousand young people from around the globe will explore issues surrounding culture, social planning, economics, government and the environment. The Riverina students will be accompanied to the conference by former Mount Austin High School Principal Dennis Bishop.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 28 March, marks 68 years since the fall of Madrid in the Spanish Civil War. It is thought about sixty Australians travelled to Spain to fight the fascists who eventually succeeded in overturning the democratically elected government. Mr Kevin Poynter from Charles Sturt University’s Visual and Performing Arts School is currently working on a play about what motivated these men to fight. He describes them as “passionate” and “romantic”. Mr Poynter says most Australians tended to join the British Brigade. “The war was particularly horrific. There are some very gruesome stories of those international brigades when they were flung into some desperate battles and lost half the brigade in 24 hours.” About 500 000 people lost their lives in the Spanish Civil War, and the war's end brought a period of dictatorship that lasted until the mid-1970s.

The Internet is often described as ”interactive” but what does that really mean? A public lecture to be presented by Charles Sturt University Division of Student Services deputy director Les Burr will look at the way the internet is rapidly becoming a commodity and its users are becoming consumers. Latest research has found that more female students go online than male students, as do older students compared to younger ones. Students from rural areas use the Internet more than their city-based counterparts. “This is a direct contradiction of the three things that are said to be hurdles to studying online, that it is male-dominated, that it is only for the young and that those living in rural areas are disadvantaged,” says Mr Burr The lecture will be held at the Tumbarumba Shire Council Chambers, Tumbarumba on Wednesday 28 March from 6pm.

Is mathematics and romance linked? Can numbers really influence your dating life? In the context of human behaviour, mathematics can provide unique and exciting insights. Residents of Wagga Wagga are invited to attend a dalliance at a Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Wagga Wagga City Council public lecture by Dr Clio Cresswell, a well known mathematician, author and writer who features regularly on television, radio and in print. Dr Cresswell will use equations to explain love, marital bliss and even the number of dates attendants should enjoy before settling down. The lecture will be held at Wagga Wagga Civic Centre Historic Council Chambers from 6pm on Thursday 29 March. Lovers will not only leave with some great romance tips, but also a rekindled sense of how amazing mathematics is.

Several Charles Sturt University (CSU) Visual and Performing Arts students are hoping they get their break into the world of entertainment with the popular Australian Idol television show holding auditions at the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus today Tuesday 3 April. CSU students have joined other hopeful performers, aged between 16 and 30, from across country NSW who have converged on Joyes Hall. It is the first Australian Idol audition to be held in Wagga Wagga and the Riverina region of NSW. Australian Idol judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson is providing his caustic comments and critical acclaim during today’s auditions. Production manager Claire Worlidge says “everybody has been really looking forward to the auditions; there’s a real buzz across the campus”.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Sarah Pickthall and 2007 Orientation Week coordinators on the Wagga Wagga Campus recently donated $1 719 to the ”Drought Appeal” held in February on the campus. “We decided to support a local charity during ‘O Week’ as it is an ideal time to get students and their parents involved with the community and ‘Drought Appeal’, which covers the geography of the CSU community,” Sarah said. The money raised from a raffle supported by local businesses was handed to Salvation Army Captain Steve Dorman by Sarah Pickthall and ‘O Week’ team members. Captain Dorman praised the CSU efforts, saying that “The donation will go a long way toward bringing relief to our brothers and sisters on the land and will give us much greater flexibility in identifying the areas of greatest need and making a significant response”.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will take over providing all services to its students such as sports clubs, medical, counselling and advisory on Wednesday 4 April. On the Wagga Wagga Campus, CSU Executive Director, Financial Services Jim Hackett will accept the handover of these services from local CSU Student Association president Bernie Moorehead. “CSU students will not notice any difference in the level of services they receive at the University with the change,” said Mr Hackett, who is also overseeing the takeover of student services across all CSU. “CSU has taken the stand that the student services provided by the CSU Student Association were an important part of the whole university experience, so the University has stepped in to continue these services, which are particularly important on our regional campuses.” The move has occurred as the result of the voluntary student unionism legislation passed last year by the Federal Government.

What is it like to be young and live in the inland city of Wagga Wagga? In keeping with the Charles Sturt University (CSU) pledge to enhance communities in rural and regional Australia, the voice of Wagga youth will be encouraged to speak out and be heard at an upcoming forum at the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus. The forum aims to bring together CSU students and young people from the community to discuss issues of concern, opportunities, hopes and anticipations. High school students, teachers, parents and people from various youth and church groups have also been invited. It’s the second such event organised by the CSU Institute of Land, Water and Society, the Civic Trust of Wagga Wagga, members of MY CREW (Many Young Courageous Responsive Empowering Women) and Wagga City Councils’ Youth Voice Committee.

After more than three decades of outstanding service to Charles Sturt University (CSU) and its predecessor institutions, Human Resources executive director Mr Reg Shaw has retired from the world of tertiary education. A dinner, hosted by Vice-Chancellor Ian Goulter and attended by past and present CSU staff and students, recognised Mr Shaw’s contribution. Mr Shaw says, “I have been honoured to be part of Charles Sturt University and its predecessor institutions for the past 33 years. When I look back, it is with great fondness and feelings of satisfaction and achievement”. Mr Shaw is confident of an exciting future for CSU, observing “The University has reached a level of maturity and prosperity that I am sure will endure for many years to come and I wish it every success for the future”.