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.

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.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has this week welcomed the Australian Red Cross mobile Blood Donor service onto its Bathurst Campus to encourage staff, students and community members to give blood. Professor Greg Walker, Head of CSU’s Bathurst Campus, said, “We know that, according to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, the gap between the number of blood donors and the number of Australians who need blood will widen unless Australians step up their efforts as blood donors. CSU is proud to support this vital service and encourage our staff, students and community members to give blood regularly. We’ve supported Red Cross blood donations on the Bathurst Campus since the 1970s.” Potential donors should contact the service directly on 13 14 95 to make an appointment, and allow at least 45 minutes for the donation process.

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.

New South Wales has eight incumbent Independent members of parliament – will that change after the State election on March 24? Charles Sturt University (CSU) politics lecturer Dr Troy Whitford predicts that the number of Independents has plateaued. “But they will always be a main feature of rural elections. Why? Because Independents aim at appealing to a rural and regional mindset called 'countrymindedness'", Dr Whitford explains. “It tends to emphasis the importance of rural Australia and that people in the country have a greater moral compass and a better work ethic than the city, and that politics is always city-centric. ‘Countrymindedness’ suggests rural people are the backbone to the economy, and they should be given special consideration. Old-fashioned ‘countrymindedness’ is apparent in the rhetoric of the Independents representing rural seats.” Dr Whitford predicts Labor will be returned, and says, “I will be very surprised if we see an increase in Independents. I think the Coalition will pick up a couple of seats, but Labor will hang on."

No doubt it is a very nice accolade when a national newspaper describes your latest film as “shaping up as the year's top Australian comedy”. However, director and Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate Darren Ashton says, “Although we are really chuffed at the response, at the end of the day the most important thing is that people go and see it”. The idea for Razzle Dazzle grew out of a short story written by Darren’s partner, and fellow CSU graduate, Carolyn Wilson. Described as “a fly-on-the-wall look at the tears, tantrums and tiaras in the world of competitive dance eisteddfods”, it was filmed in the “mockumentary” style because, “The dance world is really heightened, and I wanted to balance that with being observational and understated,” said Darren, whose debut feature film was Thunderstruck. His next project is a wrestling film set in the 1970s.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is encouraging students to ‘internationalise’ their CSU degrees through overseas scholarships and student exchange programs. Nuala Grundy from the CSU Office of International Relations says international study gives students insights into other cultures and societies, helps them develop career skills, enhances their employment opportunities and helps them become more maturity, independent and confident. Global study opportunities and study grants will be on show to CSU and local high school students at the CSU International Fair to be held on Wednesday 21 March at the Rivcoll Union, Wagga Wagga Campus. Representatives from the North Dakota State University and the University of North Carolina will outline study opportunities in the US. Representatives from the Embassy of France and the US Educational Advising Centre will also be present.

Imagine looking at a typical wall of wines in a shop. There might be 15 varieties, one hundred different brands and infinite taste variations. For the wine connoisseur this may be appealing, but it could be enough to deter the average wine consumer from purchasing any wine at all. Charles Sturt University (CSU) sensory scientist Anthony Saliba from the School of Food and Wine Science will give the first public lecture for 2007 about logical approaches to selecting an enjoyable wine at the Temora Town Hall on Wednesday 21 March. Dr Saliba works with wine consumers to determine their tastes and then takes those preferences to winemakers so they can create wines that truly appeal to buyers, thus encouraging the wine industry to become more customer focused.

Do you consider your health when making decisions about your diet? Do your children or other family members influence how you shop and prepare meals? Women aged eighteen and over are invited to take part in an international research study looking at these issues. Barbara Parker, a PhD student at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus, is researching women's perceptions of 'healthy' and 'risky' eating in the Riverina region of NSW and in Thunder Bay in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Women can contribute to this research by participating in a one hour interview with Ms Parker, who is available on (02) 6933 2563. The study aims to explore how women living in rural and regional communities understand, experience and make decisions about their food choices.