The Commons: A gathering place for Seattle University faculty and staff

Having claimed sole possession of the Western Athletic Conference regular season title, the women's basketball team enters the WAC tournament as the number one seed. The Redhawks play New Mexico State Wednesday at 6 p.m. Get more information on the tournament as well as a very special award Coach Joan Bonvicini, above, has received.

VOX POPULI: With Pope Benedict XVI stepping down Feb. 28, we want to know...What would you do your last day on the job before retiring? Send your answers to The Commons.

While reporting on whether it pays for consumers to drive out of their way to fuel up at cheaper gas stations, King 5's Jesse Jones turned to Jeff Boersema, chair of the Department of Mathematics, to see if it penciled out. Watch the report HERE.

Take a trip to Thailand with Professor Phil Thompson, his students and University Photographer Chris Joseph Taylor in the winter issue of Seattle University Magazine. Thompson and company traveled to this corner of the world for Thompson's continuing work with clean water initiatives. Also in the issue, a profile of Assistant Professor Mark Cohan and his research on the steampunk subculture and a Q&A with an alumna who returned to her alma mater to teach English in the College of Arts and Sciences. Read on at SU Magazine.

President Stephen Sundborg, S.J., delivered his second annual Report to the University on Oct. 29. The president outlined four external factors impacting the university and laid out five imperatives for meeting these challenges and thriving in the years ahead. Read the FULL SPEECH.

The fall issue of Community Connections features a story on a group of local teens, led by Claire Garoutte of the Fine Arts Department, who captured the history of Yesler Terrace for a summer youth media program and campus exhibit that opens Sept. 17. There's also a Q&A with Rachael Steward of the Center for Service and Community Engagement and a Meet Your Neighbor profile of Head Basketball Coach Cameron Dollar. Read it now at Community Connections.