Uga 3 6 14 proof2

March 6, 2014 | Volume 6, Issue 9 | Athens, GA

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THE SPIRIT OF SPRING PAGE 2

UGA MIRACLE RAISES HALF A MILLION FTK!!! page 3 SCHOOLS OUT FOR MAY page 4 5 RULES OF ROAD TRIPPING page 7

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Editor's note

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tHe SPirit oF SPring It’s fairly easy to tell when Spring descends upon Athens. Whether it is hordes of rollerbladers sweeping throughout campus or the Chapel Bell’s continuous tolling: one thing that’s for sure is we Athenians are happy folks.

DANIELLE WeINeR Phi Mu

editor-in-Chief

Danielle is a junior studying English and history. You may contact her at dweiner@uga.edu.

On the surface level, of course, it appears that the collective atmosphere conveys excitement. Yet upon further exploration, several of us prefer to live in a bubble world, avoiding talking about what exactly happens after graduation.

Considered to be a hot topic for all students, fancy internships, traveling plans, and summer classes all contribute to what eventually results in life-altering decisions.

Glancing upwards towards the sunny skies, there is undoubtedly an overwhelming feeling of hopefulness. Not only will Spring bring forth promisingly warmer weather, it also has the ability to shift our spirits from somber to vibrant.

Upon our final farewell to the bone chilling winter gusts, the first week in March tends to arise winter exhaustion. Shedding our winter layers, images of springtime in Athens bring forth a slew of possibilities!

Whether spring translates towards attending Relay for Life, visions of Spring Break, baseball games, spring parties, or concerts: there’s always something for each of us to embrace as the next big adventure.

Existing traditionally as a time of renewal, I encourage each and every one of us to take advantage of each opportunity that presents itself. While often times spring exists as a time for new beginnings, it is also a time of closure.

The days are growing longer and summer is just around the corner. With impending graduations, and shifts in the university atmosphere, there is no better of a time than NOW to enjoy these few closing moments to the academic year.

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Self business

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UGA MIRACLE RAISES HALF A MILLION FTK!!!

Sanders said, “The presence of other college students just made it so much better.”

A total of 1500 students participated this year and around 800 students were present at all times in Tate Grand Hall. Sanders has participated in Dance Marathon for the past three years and said this was the best one yet.

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ALEX eVeRHaRT Alpha Omicron Pi

Alex is a sophomore studying pre-journalism and public relations. You may contact her at abe1993@uga.edu.

Every participating organization on campus dug deep into their pockets to contribute to this grand total. Phi Mu was one of the highest donors to the cause, giving a huge check of $115,383.82. Sigma Phi Epsilon and Kappa Delta also donated hefty amounts of $34,893.22 and $15,121.42 respectively. Alpha Omicron Pi was also able to raise over $24,000 for the UGA Miracle total.

For more information on UGA Miracle and being part of this amazing team go to www. ugamiracle.org.

UGA Miracle has outdone itself this year raising $507,203.14 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Their goal was a 20 percent increase from last year, when they raised $346,289.13.

After a year of intense fundraising, UGA Miracle blew their goal out of the water.

On Saturday, 22 at 10 a.m. until Sunday, 23 at 10 a.m. all members from UGA Miracle gathered in Tate Grand Hall for 24 hours of dancing and celebrating their incredible year.

With a team around 1,400 students, UGA Miracle supports the Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit through Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. At the end of each year, the UGA Miracle family comes together along with the families of many children that have been helped through Children’s at the annual Dance Marathon.

Every year at Dance Marathon, the Miracle families share their personal stories and express what UGA Miracle is truly working for.

“Absolutely amazing. Our goal was $415,000 and we went far and above it. I got to spend time with my Miracle family again, which was so awesome. Just a perfect experience all around,” Brittany Skolnick, sophomore Alpha Omicron Pi, said.

This year’s Dance Marathon theme focused on adventure and travel. The UGA Miracle team encouraged everyone to “Lose Yourself” at Dance Marathon.

Many team members also took the “Standing Challenge” to show their support to children who aren’t able to stand on their own.

“I did the standing challenge which was kind of hard, but having the families there made it a lot easier because you got to see what all your hard work was going towards,” Katy Huffman, sophomore Delta Zeta, said.

Although it can be considered one of the most exhausting experiences, it is one of the most rewarding. The emotions this year at Dance Marathon were higher than any of the years past.

“It was unbelievable. I don’t know how to describe it. It was energy packed,” Ryan Sanders, junior Hospital Relations co-chair, said.

Sanders is part of the UGA Miracle executive board, who arrived at Dance Marathon ready to go at 7 a.m. the day of. The executive team is in charge of the different committees and works yearlong to reach their goal.

According to Sanders, before Christmas Break UGA Miracle had a total of $220,000.

At that point, the executive team made a goal of $415,000. In the years past, only the executive team knows the overall fundraising goal. This year, the team went out on a limb and told the entire UGA Miracle organization the fundraising goal.

“We had support of entire organization knowing the goal and where we stood,”

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Scene on campus

SCHOOLS OUT FOR MAY Schools out for the summer in May, and it is always a challenge to find that perfect adventure to fill up those few weeks before the heat sets in and the bugs come out. Now, I’m not complaining that UGA gets out a few weeks early, but it’s important to think about what you’re going to do with the valuable time.

ISABEL MaCgUIRe Alpha Delta Pi

Isabel is a junior studying mass media arts. You may reach her at mimac92@uga.edu.

1. May is the perfect time to study abroad. In just a few short weeks you can become a world traveler and experience parts of the world that few have traveled to. Get some classes out of the way and enjoy a glass of wine in Spain at the same time! Studying abroad in college is a must, and there is no better time to travel the world than when you can go with a group of your best friends.

2. Another great option is to stay in Athens. Athens has so much to offer and when it clears out for May, you have the town to yourself. When the bars aren’t packed with a bunch of people you don’t know and there isn’t a wait at The Last Resort, you will run this town.

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3. While it may not be your first choice, I’m sure your parents would love for you to go home. Now that you’re a busy student with something new to do every night it gets harder and harder to find time to go home. Believe it or not, your parents miss you, and who doesn’t want to be treated like royalty in the home they used to be the live-in maid at? Use a little bit of that charm you’ve picked up and sleep until noon with hot pancakes waiting for you when you awake from your 13 hour slumber.

4. You can always throw a dart at a map and go on a road-trip. A month without school and commitment is a month you have to do whatever you want. Be spontaneous and travel the USA with a beat up car, your best friends, and a few PB&J sandwiches for the long days in the car. Make your way out to Colorado or the Grand Canyon, and you’ll feel like you left the country, just in a cheaper way.

5. Take advantage of this month and earn some extra cash with a summer job. Nothing beats having spending money in your pockets, so save up and enjoy the clanging in your pockets for once. If you’re smart about it, you can pick up a lifeguarding job and work on your tan or babysit and enjoy the tax-free payment.

May is a wonderful time. Make your dreams come true with a summer adventure that will give you a memory that will last forever.

SneeZy SPring Spring. It is that time of year when the baseball bats start crackin’, the leaves come back, and the Sigma Chi temperature feels warmer.

Everybody is happy, happy, Tate is a sophomore studying happy. Well, except some f i n a n c e & p s y c h o l o g y. people… Approximately 40 You may contact him at million people suffer from tcooksey@uga.edu. spring allergies every year.

Here is a little background information on allergies and some helpful tips on prevention: The roots of our allergies lie in the pollen itself. Pollen is defined as a fine powdery substance, typically yellow, consisting of microscopic grains discharged from the male part of a flower or from a male cone. Each grain contains a male gamete that can fertilize the female ovule, to which the wind, insects, or other animals transport pollen. The type of pollen that generally causes allergies comes from anemophilous plants such as grasses, oaks, sweet chestnuts, and alders. These plants produce the pollen that irritates our allergies.

An allergy is a heightened sensitivity to a foreign substance that causes the body’s immune system to overreact when defending itself. For people with pollen allergies, their immune system is working really hard to fight off a harmless substance. When their body’s defense system responds to the substance, it produces a reaction that can range from a mild to life threatening situation.

TATE COOKSeY

· · · · · · · · ·

Common allergy symptoms: Sneezing Wheezing Itchy, watery eyes Itchy skin Hives Runny nose Fatigue Irritability Stomach ache

One of the most common allergy conditions is asthma. Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results from an allergic reaction of other forms of hypersensitivity. This condition is often inherited and is more common in certain families. Environmental factors also play a role in the development of asthma.

Asthma attacks are most common in the spring. The inflammation causes airways to tighten and narrow, which block air from flowing freely into the lungs, making it hard to breathe. The list below provides helpful information for asthma attack situations.

What to do during an asthma attack: 1. Have the person STOP whatever activity he/she is doing. Send another person to get help. DO NOT leave the person alone.

2. Follow the person’s Asthma Action Plan or emergency plan if there is one.

3. If the individual has a RESCUE INHALER or NEBULIZER (with medicines such as albuterol, proventil, ventolin or xopenex), have him/her USE IT IMMEDIATELY (preferably with a spacer or valved holding chamber).

4. REPEAT above steps if symptoms continue.

5. IF SYMPTOMS CONTINUE OR WORSEN, SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL HELP. It is difficult to avoid the pollens that cause allergies because we all have to spend some time outside. However, there are a couple places around campus that you can avoid to reduce allergy symptoms. You can avoid the botanical gardens, intramural fields, and the university golf course in order to ensure your immune system is in top shape.

Thankfully, scientists have developed medicine that can protect people from allergic reactions to pollen. There are several types of medication available to treat symptoms such as antihistamines, decongestants, corticosteroids, and others. These drugs, however, cannot cure allergies.

If you think you might have allergies, you can go to an allergist at the Allergy Partners of Georgia located in Athens. If you do, in fact, have allergies and seek to treat your symptoms, the UGA Health Center has an allergy clinic. I go there twice a week to get my allergy shots. It takes about 30 minutes, and the nurses are really nice.

Ideas debate & discuss

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inCreaSe tHe inFraStruCture

In my article last week, I called for stricter policies regarding drunk driving.

The article was read by Sigma Beta Rho hundreds of people, Zain is a junior studying including many of my international affairs. fraternity brothers. It was You may contact him at received well, and many zabidi954@gmail.com. of those who read it were still grieving for the loss of four young men in Tampa.

However, the biggest criticism of my article was that it called for a reactive response rather than a proactive response. And I must agree.

ZAIN aBIDI

The root cause of many of our drunk driving problems is the lack of public and mass transportation in many of our nation’s largest cities. This boils down to a problem that America must address in order to stay competitive in the world. Our infrastructure as a whole is aging and not on par with what a 21st century infrastructure should look like.

The Great Nations and Empires of the past had many things in common, one of the greatest being the development of infrastructure throughout the lands. This is evident in the great road systems of the Islamic Caliphate, the aqueducts of ancient Rome, and water highways in China.

When the United States was rising as a power, it built ways to transport water and electricity throughout the nation. It was a cutting edge system at the time. After World War 2 we built a national interstate system and pioneered the internet, which was America’s

last major upgrade in infrastructure.

Up and coming nations are investing heavily in infrastructure, and we should take this as a sign to upgrade our infrastructure. China and the European Union are building new high speed rail lines, while here in the U.S the funding gets shot down by politicians like Governor Rick Scott of Florida. Here in Atlanta, it is estimated that 18 percent of the water in pipes gets wasted through leakage.

Chicago O’Hare Airport holds the record for near misses on the runway, Florida’s Lake Okeechobee (The biggest Lake in North America outside the Great Lakes, and a source of water for millions in Florida.) has a one in six chance of bursting over the dikes any given year, and the Brooklyn Bridge is considered “structurally deficient” (this does not mean it is unsafe, however).

America’s aging infrastructure is reminiscent of a decaying empire. Obviously revitalizing the infrastructure takes money, and money is short in these times, but one must consider an investment in infrastructure is an investment in America’s future.

Increasing Public Transit is just one facet of infrastructure. But if cities were to have functioning and efficient public transit like New York and Chicago, issues such as drunk driving would become less of an issue, as a driver would not have to resort to driving drunk.

America’s cities must become more efficient, whether it be public transit, highway systems, water and plumbing, and in space allocation. Urban Sprawl will no longer be feasible and created problems of it’s own. It is time to rethink the way our country is built and to upgrade our infrastructure, some of which has been around for almost a century.

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Adventure traveling

72 More DayS oF SCHool, 108 DayS until Bonnaroo

Spring break is around the corner, summer is fast approaching, and everyone is pining for sunlit days and tan lines. As we countdown Gamma Phi Beta the days to warmer weather and fewer responsibilities, Mackenzie is a freshman it is practically instinct studying finance & psychology. to get excited about the You may contact her at care-free months that will mjr924@uga.edu. soon be ours. Summer for me has always meant lazy afternoons at the lake, Coronas by the pool, and music. Limitless hours of live music.

MACKENZIE RaNDOLpH

Elton John, Kanye West, Jack White, Lionel Riche, Vampire Weekend, The Avett Brothers, Phoenix, Skrillex, Arctic Monkeys, Frank Ocean, The Flaming Lips, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Neutral Milk Hotel, Wiz Khalifa, The Head and the Heart, Zedd, Broken Bells, Ben Howard, Grouplove, Janelle Monáe, Amos Lee, Cake, Slightly Stoopid, Dr. Dog, Phosphorescent, Washed Out, James Blake, Rudimental, The Wood Brothers, Sarah Jarosz, Vintage Trouble, Valerie June, The Lone Bellow, Caveman, Vance Joy, Lake Street Drive, The Glitch Mob, Warpaint, Seasick Steve, The Naked and Famous, Jake Bugg, The Rapper, John Butler Trio, The Black Lilllies, The Wild Feathers, City and Colour.

These are just small handful of all the outstanding bands lined up to play at Bonnaroo this June.

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Such a miscellaneous collection of music all congregated on the same farm in Manchester, Tennessee seems almost surreal, and as a result, over 80,000 “Bonnaroovians” come together every year to celebrate the phenomena. More than 150 concerts are compiled into four days of epic performances and adventures with new and old friends alike. This is a place where memories are made and overall feelings of happiness connect everyone who enters the infamous Bonnaroo arch.

An obstacle for many future Bonnaroovians is the financial obligation, but don’t stress because there is in fact a way to evade the steep ticket price by becoming part of the volunteer “c’roo.”

As part of the C’roo you will be granted access to all the concerts for a low admission cost of $0.00. C’roo members either work pre-show, post-show, or during the show, and although they must sacrifice some of their time to work, they are still able to completely engage themselves in the Bonnaroo experience. College students especially should take advantage of c’roo opportunities because student volunteers are eligible to participate in Well Dunn -- a program that awards scholarships, mentorships, internships, and jobplacement support for those aspiring to become a part of the entertainment industry.

Music festivals are unlike any other experience you will ever take part in, and Bonnaroo’s unparalleled, care-free atmosphere make it royalty among music festivals in America.

The experience of Bonnaroo is comparable to that of CounterPoint, Coachella, SXSW, Governors Ball, Lollapalooza, and plenty more. However, there are also some other smaller but still noteworthy festivals in Georgia, such as the Shaky Knees Music Festival and Party in the Park, that are scheduled to be just as incredible.

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Adventure traveling

5 RULeS OF ROaD TRIppINg

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using airbnb.com, which lets you rent out rooms or whole places from other users. Or Delta Phi Lambda check out couchsurfing.org, which gives you access to a worldwide community of Penn is a junior studying publication couchsurfers, tools to plan management and English. You may your trip, and browse locals contact her at phansa@uga.edu. with couches available. To calculate how much you’ll need for gas, take the average cost of gas, add it to the length of your route, and then add an additional 50 percent. You never know what will distract you. That being said…

PENN HaNSa

I don’t know about you, but all the snow days almost made me forget about spring break. That said, I’m a little behind on my planning. But what better way to have an unforgettable week of adventure, fun and exploration than going on a road trip?

Here are some rules to make sure your drive doesn’t go flat: 1. Make some decisions. I’m not asking you to have a complete list of all your rest stops and exits, but at least decide which direction you want to head. Close your eyes and throw a dart on a map. Use a random coordinate generator (I used random.org/ geographic-coordinates/). Or figure out if you just want to go to the beach or the city.

Just pick something.

2. Plan out your budget. Because it might limit your options a little more, money is something you have to take into consideration too. To keep costs down on lodging, try

3. Be spontaneous! We all know that saying – focus on the journey, not the destination.

Let that be your mantra. Stop by random towns, go in those weird museums, or take the scenic route. You never know what you could find.

4. So don’t use a GPS. Use a paper map. In addition to being a great souvenir to tack up on your wall when you get home, you can use it to find cool things along your route (if you have one). Take the U.S. highways instead of the interstates.

5. Just do what you love. If that means spending all day at the beach once you get there, go for it. Stuffing your face at the best eateries in town? Why not? If shopping’s your thing, walk around the city and check out the boutiques. This is your trip and your time to let go of all the everyday schedules and constraints of school. Just get out and go.

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500 words on pop culture

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College Catering a Quickly Growing Market When driving for non-emergency reasons was banned in the city of Indianapolis in early January, due to warnings of a wind chill temperature of 45 degrees below zero and eight to 10 inches of snow, College Chefs, a company that caters to fraternity and sorority houses around the nation, made sure its clients were fed.

“We guarantee that we will never miss a meal, and we take that promise very seriously,” said Dave Tarrant, general manager of business operations for the company. “We have definitely been tested, but we have come through.”

Tarrant said the company put chefs up at hotels near Indianapolis-area clients so that they could get to work.

He said that since its founding just four years ago, Illinois-based College Chefs has seen great success and now serves 75 houses nationwide. Tarrant said all of the company’s clients from the previous academic year retained its services for this one.

Richard George, a professor of food marketing at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, said food services to Greek houses is an untapped market, with a lot of room for new, quality companies to succeed.

The company’s competitors, which consist mainly of other newly formed organizations, include Campus Cooks and Gill Grilling, which have also seen recent, speedy success and expansion.

“From my perspective as a food marketing professor for over 40 years, college students are eating and drinking machines,” George said. “In my opinion, the key to success is to provide food options whenever and wherever hunger and convenience collide.”

George said the key to meeting success in this market is meeting the needs of the consumers.

“The challenge is to develop a delivery system and price points that meet the needs,” George said.

Tarrant said College Chefs works very closely with each of its clients to dovetail services to their needs and desires.

“We will create a menu specifically designed for each chapter,” Tarrant said. “The bulk of the power relies on the customer.”

He said the company often greatly improves the quality of the cuisine that its clients consume when they employ it, regularly replacing their diet of frozen foods with fresher, healthier options.

Tarrant said the biggest issue for the company is attracting top chefs, though it has managed to build a first-rate team due largely to the flexibly and reliability of working for the company.

“Most chefs work 50 to 70 hours a week,” Tarrant said. “They work late nights and they work all holidays…On top of that, it is a pretty grueling job.”

“We generally offer a 9 to 5 work schedule, and a lot of our chefs actually have weekends off,” Tarrant said.

He said College Chefs started out by focusing on a single client and slowly growing from there, but it now has big plans for quick expansion.

“We’ve been able to kind of just naturally convey our reputation, so now we can focus on the long-term,” Tarrant said. “We have some goals, and one of our goals is that we do want to be the most admired by all fraternity and sorority houses in the country, and the way we will do that is by getting the most sought after chefs. We’re going to have a lot of success.”

12 THRee STRIKeS YOU’Re OUT… Sports local

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To all you diehard bulldawg fans, the end of Fall brings not only the cold Phi Mu weather, but the end of a lifestyle -- the end of UGA Celia is a junior studying football season. You spend advertising and public relations.

You may contact her at every week counting down boyd3@uga.edu. the hours until kick-off and every weekend engulfed in the tailgates and traditions.

Once it all ends, your Saturdays become dull and comatose. It feels like an eternity before the beloved season returns…

CELIA BOYD

Wait no longer. With Spring comes warm weather, sunny afternoons, and baseball season! As a current Diamond Darling, I spend many of my evenings hanging out in the bleachers, listening to country music and cheering on the bulldawg baseball team.

However, there is never as much excitement for this season as there is for football. And the stands are never quite as full.

Why is it that football is the only thing that can get us out of our beds on the weekends?

There are not nearly as many baseball fanatics as there are football fans. Maybe it is the

slow pace of the game or the many weekday night games that cut into our time for precious school work. Whatever the reason, I think it is time that things change.

Baseball may mean more to me than to many of you, and that is why I am so passionate about recruiting more fans. I grew up a Cubs fan and spent many summers at Wrigley Field with my dad. The start of baseball season always symbolized the beginning of freedom and relaxation. Munching on boiled peanuts and slurping down a giant lemonade brought joy to me. If you don’t have the same feelings towards baseball, maybe it is because you have not given it a chance. Or maybe you have, and if that’s the case, give it another shot.

Foley Field could bring you all of these new memories. This year is the year to start supporting the baseball team and racking in the fans. Sports teams always do better with a bigger and rowdier crowd in the stands. If this spring season, we could get more people to come out, I think the team could perform exponentially better. What is the harm in catching a little rays and hanging out with friends at the baseball game?

The Bulldawgs have a new head coach this season, Scott Stricklin, and an exciting schedule. Many of the team’s greatest players are underclassmen and bring delight to the team. And, the Diamond Darlings are always passing out signed baseballs or pizza to lucky fans. But you have to attend the games to be a part of it all. So get out there and cheer on the bulldawg baseball team.

10 REASONS WHY NOT TO FLAKE OUT ON SPRING BREAK to put our tolerance to the test and to make “memories”?

As if you need any more convincing, here’s 10 reasons why to make the most if it: 1. Cramming 12 people into a four person room is totally underrated in the adult world and also unfortunately for us is just as unacceptable.

GRACIE pReSTON Kappa Delta

Gracie is a senior studying prebusiness. You may contact her at gp28@uga.edu.

2. “I already graduated” just doesn’t fly on a beach of undergrads, unless you’re referencing graduating high school in which case direct yourself to PCB. 3. A walk of shame in the real world is not the same as on The Real World.

4. The last time you’ll be able to casually repeat “Riding the Wave” in reference to Wave Vodka (and spend a mere $10 on a handle).

5. Your body will never recover from the work force come later years. Cherish that bod.

6. Anything to get to Warmer Weather.

7. One night stands just have so much more appeal at the beach.

8. Clothes inhibit a lot of initial scoping out of potential hook ups. Bikinis leave little to the imagination.

The phenomenon that surrounds Spring Break is a relatively recent one, and I salute the originators for turning a simple week of Spring into the binge-fest that is Spring Break.

People from overseas come to American beaches and go to Caribbean hot spots just to experience “The American Spring Break.” So why would any of us pass up on the opportunity

9. The chances you will never see said one night stand are so much more appealing -- because SPRING BREAKKKK, that’s why.

10. For those of you heading down to the Mile 1 marker, meet me at Flying Monkey.

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Lookbook fashion

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14 500 words on

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aND THe OSCaR gOeS TO...

Best Actress Nominees: Amy Adams American Hustle, Cate Blanchett Blue Jasmine, Sandra Bullock Gravity, Dame Judi Dench Alpha Tau Omega Philomena, Meryl Streep August: Osage County Thomas is a senior studying Who will win: Cate Blanchett accounting. You may contact is the clear favorite as the best him at gtwasson@gmail.com. character written by Woody Allen in recent memory. He is really good at writing neurotic and complicated Manhattan socialites, and she proved to be the perfect choice for this particular role, loosely based on Ruth Madoff. Blanchett is the clear lock but Bullock could potentially pull out the dark horse win and snag another Oscar for her mantle.

Best Director Nominees: Alfonso Cuaron Gravity, Steve McQueen 12 Years a Slave, Alexander Payne Nebraska, David Russell American Hustle, Martin Scorcese The Wolf of Wall Street Who will win: Cuaron won’t be denied, though McQueen the visionary or Russell the actors’ director both have a marginal chance. Gravity shows evidence of the careful hands of a master director. From the cinematography, the unprecedented vision, the groundbreaking use of 3-D, the intensity of the plot, and the great performances from Bullock and Clooney, Cuaron shows he can craft a damn good movie.

Others winners: Best Supporting Actor winner: Probably Jared Leto in Dallas Buyer’s Club, though I really want it to go to Fassbender. His turn as a morally grey slave driver is cemented into my brain forever.

Best Supporting Actress winner: Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle. She is magnificent, what else can you say?

THOMAS WaSSON

Best Picture Nominees: American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street Who will win: Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity seems to be the obvious favorite simply due to the fact it was the highest reviewed movie this year in addition to being commercially successful.

A visual tour de force, Gravity allowed viewers a breathtaking view of space. However, don’t completely discount David Russell’s superbly written and acted American Hustle. It has the kind of smart dialogue and intricate plot that Oscar voters love. Also, 12 Years a Slave, directed by Hollywood legend Steve McQueen, presents possibly the most impactful view of American slavery to ever grace the big screen. My long shot dark horse is Spike Jonze’s completely original Her. It was simply beautiful through and through and managed to provide an unforgettable dissection of love and relationships. My personal favorite of 2013, though it will almost certainly lose this category.

Best Actor Nominees: Christian Bale American Hustle, Bruce Dern Nebraska, Leonardo DiCaprio The Wolf of Wall Street, Chiwetel Ejiofor 12 Years a Slave, Matthew McConaughey Dallas Buyers Club Who will win: Though all the nominees delivered master class performances, McConaughey is the clear favorite. In recent years he has established himself as a serious dramatic actor, evolving from eye candy in rom-coms. Ejiofor could pull out the upset, though, as his acting in 12 Years soulful and profound. DiCaprio does actually have a decent chance (maybe the voters will finally pity him and finally award him his first Oscar).

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