Siblings bond over new, old activities

Tiffani Taylor has always been extremely close with her family members. For the past three years, SIBS Weekend has provided her with a way to stay in touch with them in the midst of the school year.

The Chesterfield junior and her younger brother, Chase Velloney, 9, were among the siblings to enter into the “SIBS Photo Scavenger Hunt” held throughout campus Saturday morning.

Together, Taylor and Chase raced through the snow and buildings to complete a series of Central Michigan University-related photo tasks, all of which were to be posted to Instagram to earn points. Taylor captured images of her brother making a snow angel, playing the air guitar and even reading Central Michigan Life.

“I’ve always been really close to my siblings,” Taylor said.

Taylor also has a 13-year-old sister who accompanied her to SIBS Weekend in previous years. Over the course of the day, Taylor and Chase attended the scavenger hunt, laser tag, SIBS Carnival and other activities, as well as spending some creative time with Taylor’s sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma.

The organization, which hosts several sisterhood events each semester, held a canvas painting social in the Lakeshore Room of the Bovee University Center. Taking place during SIBS Weekend, any siblings of the sisters were invited to join.

When she wasn’t catching up and joking with her sisters, Taylor helped Chase choose his colors and giving him advice on what to paint.

“He’s got the Sigma Spirit over here,” Taylor said jokingly. “He’s just like me, all organized.”

Taylor said Sigma Sigma Sigma provides her with a way to continue her family-oriented lifestyle while she is away from home.

“The bonding and having a family away from home is really what I love most,” Taylor said.

Dewitt freshman Alyssa June is one of Taylor’s sorority sisters, and said Taylor is a natural leader in addition to being family-oriented.

“She’s a very caring, loving person,” June said. “It’s definitely a second family away from home. You get that feeling as soon as you walk in the door.”

It was during their time with Sigma Sigma Sigma that Taylor and Chase learned the SIBS Carnival would be postponed due to weather.

After a break for dinner, the siblings jumped back into action with a race through the inflatable obstacle course in the Student Activities Center. While it was close, the 9-year-old came out slightly ahead of his sister at the end.

While the carnival remains Taylor’s favorite part of the festivities, her brother said it is impossible to pick just one event of SIBS Weekend that he enjoys the most.