Siblings Weekend kicks off with exotic animals, illusionist
Okemos freshman Melina Stone throws a quaffle through a hoop during a Quidditch clinic for CMU siblings on Jan. 25 in the Student Activity Center.
With a new "World Tour" theme, Central Michigan University students and their siblings opened Siblings Weekend on Jan. 25 with an exotic animals exhibit in Finch Fieldhouse.
Just beyond the registration tables, Supe’s Exotic Jungle had set up a petting zoo, complete with a red fox, parrot, tortoise, baby alligator, sharks and other animals.
Students and siblings were able to directly interact with these animals. Some even got to pet a wallaby, touch stingrays and have a snake rest on their shoulders.
“(Siblings Weekend) is opening people up to any new opportunities, seeing a new act, learning a new thing and trying a new thing,” said Girard Brown, organizer and graduate assistant for Student Activities. “I just want people to truly enjoy the experience, try something new and enjoy time with their siblings.”
The founder of Supe’s Exotic Jungle, Brent Barrick, enjoys educating others on animals in a hands-on way.
“I figure if somebody’s holding something that’s the best chance you’re going to get that information to stick in their heads," he said. "You tell them about an alligator and they’re holding its belly it’s going to stick more."
Rochester Hills sophomore Hallie Wolf and her siblings Liz, 15, Joseph, 13, and Sarah, 11, were able to witness Supe’s Exotic Jungle experience.
For Sarah, the wallaby “kind of just felt like a dog” and the alligator “just laid there and didn’t really do anything."
While her siblings enjoyed the exotic animals, Hallie is looking forward to showing them around campus.
“It’s going to be really nice to show my siblings Central because they haven’t been here before, so this is their first time seeing where I live,” Hallie said.
The next event was the Quidditch Clinic. Quidditch is a common game played in the “Harry Potter” book and movie series. This opportunity allowed fans a chance to play the game for themselves.
During the game there were two groups of players: chasers and beaters. Albion sophomore Samantha Lowe and her sister Clara, 14, were beaters.
“I think once we got to the scrimmaging, we really got to experience what a Quidditch game is like, kind of as best as a Muggle (person without magical ability) can,” Samantha said.
For freshman Grand Blanc Alexis Limban and her niece Zoey Drevon, 6, this is a time for nostalgia. Limban used to attend Siblings Weekend with her sister and now attends the event with Zoey, her sister’s daughter.
“I was seven the first time I came so I don’t remember a lot, but looking back on the pictures and everything, I think it was a great bonding experience for me and my sister," Limban said. "I’m only a freshman, but coming to CMU this semester was something I really looked forward to doing with Zoey."
In Finch Fieldhouse, students and siblings were able to suit up in climbing gear and take on the rock wall.
Rock climbing was something Warren freshman Autumn Emmendorfer hadn’t done in years, but her brother Liam, 10, considered himself a connoisseur.
“It’s going to be really nice (hanging out with my brother),” Emmendorfer said. “I feel like he’s getting an interest, (thinking) ‘I may be ten, but college is pretty fun.’”
Homer Glen freshman Tess Santoro attended Illinois State University Siblings Weekend when she was 10 years old. Now, her cousin Amber McElroy and siblings, Chloe, 27, Hannah, 22, are visiting as her guests from Illinois.
“It’s kind of fun, I’m the one in college now,” Tess said. “They’re both out of college, one’s in grad school, the other has a job, so it’s like my turn now. I get to invite them to my dorm, walk around my campus, and it’s weird that I’m in their shoes now. I’m the old person now even though they’re still older than me.”
Illusionist and Mind Reader Eric Dittelman performs Jan. 25 at Platcha Auditorium. The America's Got Talent semifinalist baffled students and their siblings as part of Central Michigan University's Sibling Weekend.
Illusionist Eric Dittelman performed mind readings in a full Plachta auditorium in Warriner Hall to end the night.
“My show is mostly designed for college students and older people, but you learn to adapt and make the show family-friendly, so that even if there are some jokes the young people don’t get, the old people can get it and enjoy the show,” Dittelman said. “Having any type of mystery performance brings that sense of wonder back, we especially have as young kids.”
A new day of activities will launch tomorrow with a pancake breakfast at 9 a.m. in Finch Fieldhouse, continue with Club Bovee and wrap up with a movie showing at 10 p.m.
“All the work, running around, screaming and phone calls and work put into this — the sweat, blood and tears — it’s all worth it as long as people are having a good time,” Brown said.
