On Sunday evening, Penn students across campus will put down their Math 104 textbooks, marketing assignments and political science papers to tune in for the Oscars.
Dorms throughout campus will be hosting a variety of screening events in their various spaces, including Hill College House, King’s Court English College House, Harrison College House, Rodin College House, and the Quadrangle.
“I usually don’t watch the Oscars, but this year I’m really excited,” Wharton freshman Rachel Beck said. “Fisher and Ware are doing a combined thing in the Memorial Tower for the Oscars which is nice because you get to meet kids in other halls and we don’t combine with them that frequently.”
Some dorms have been preparing for the 85th annual Academy Awards well before the actual night of the show.
King’s Court, for example, has been showing a past winner of Best Picture each weekend for the past month in one of the lounges. College freshman Carolyn Grace said. “Normally I haven’t seen any of the movies that are nominated but I’ve actually seen three of the movies nominated this year — I feel like such a film snob.”
Other dorms, such as Rodin and Harrison, are getting creative with participation and are asking Oscar-viewing party attendees to dress up as their favorite characters.
“They’re encouraging everyone to dress up and you get prizes if you guess the winners,” College sophomore Becky Chalsen said. “I’m most excited for the free food and for a reason to hang out in the [Harrison] rooftop that doesn’t involve studying for my midterms.”
Groups of friends are also gathering for the occasion this coming Sunday.
“My friends and I made a huge effort in the last month to watch all the best picture movies and then … we all watch the Oscar’s together with a potluck,” Nursing sophomore Julia Boulton said. Whoever guesses the most award winners gets taken out to dinner by the whole group.
“It’s fun to see everyone all month long and have a huge celebration — and we take the dinner prize seriously,” she added.
In addition to groups of friends and on-campus dorms, some student groups are hosting their own events for the Oscars.
Penn for Palestine is having an event this Sunday, celebrating the nominations of two documentaries related to Palestine, and showing one of the films — “5 Broken Cameras.”
“I’m just so excited that on national television, that’s watched by so many people, this is being acknowledged — what is being shown in the film, this [filmmaker’s] view point, and what he says and shows the world is legitimate,” PFP Co-President and College sophomore Clarissa O’Connor said.
Sororities, like Sigma Delta Tau, are also participating in the Oscar’s festivities by hosting events at their houses.
“We’re doing an Oscar’s viewing party at the SDT house and the chef is making cookies for us,” College sophomore Lori Herman said. “It will be fun to watch the people — I love seeing the celebrities and the girls’ dresses.”
Most people noted that their favorite part of the upcoming awards night would be seeing who takes home the coveted award of Best Picture.
“I’m always a fan of best picture and now that I’ve seen “Lincoln,” “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Les Miserables” I’m really excited to see who gets the award,” Grace said.
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