The Michigan Times

Upon finally seeing his hard work and dreams come to fruition, Chancellor Emeritus Juan Mestas took the podium last, and cracked a joke.

"Showers," he laughed. "There is one for every two students or something like that. Plenty more than when I was a student in college."

That kind of jocularity was vintage Mestas, who spent seven years as chancellor between 2000 and 2007 before a stroke forced him to retire.

The newly opened First Street Residence Hall, as the crowd of nearly 200 gathered on Sept. 8 for its grand opening celebration was reminded by a steady stream of guest speakers, was Mestas’ brainchild.

"Without Juan, we would not be here today," University of Michigan regent Olivia Maynard said, addressing the congregation in the Rec Center. "It is his love of Flint and Genesee County that has made housing happen.

"Several other notable speakers, including Michigan Lt. Gov. John Cherry, a UM-Flint alum, spoke glowingly about the impact the new dormitory would have.

"For the student body itself, for its faculty, it will create a whole new sense of community," Cherry said. "This is probably a fundamental moment in the University of Michigan-Flint’s history."

Flint Mayor Don Williamson lauded the project, which currently houses nearly 315 residents, as one of many that will aid in the transformation of the city.

"A major link between two of Flint’s institutions of higher education was re-named University Avenue, as it symbolized Flint’s transformation from a major center of automotive manufacturing to a city known for its educational institutions," Williamson said.

"All of the different things we’re doing all adds together to make a complete bushel of apples," he said.

Several other speakers, including the building’s architect, Gene Carroll of Neumann/Smith, and William S. White, CEO of the Mott Foundation, which funded the grant for the project, heralded the project as a success.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, new UM-Flint Chancellor Ruth Person presented Mestas with a plaque bearing the words "Chancellor Mestas’ dream is our reality" along with an excerpt from his inaugural address in 2000, to be placed in the lobby of the residence hall along with a time capsule slated for re-opening in 2033.

"My heart is in that building," Mestas said. "I love the way it looks. I love the way it feels. But more than anything else, I love the fact that it is filled with students.

"The moment they turn off the light tonight and say goodnight to their neighbor at 4 a.m. or so, at that time, there will be a very happy tear coming to my eyes. It probably means nothing to them, but it means my whole life to me."