A year ago Jan. 22, a tornado blasted through Clarksville, reshaping APSU. Today, returning students will find a restored Clement Hall and other improvements, as well as a strengthened sense of community.

"The tornado was probably the most interesting thing," said senior Joey Tuck, 21. "Some people say it was a big tragedy. I think it mostly brought the university closer together as a home. It was kind of a bonding thing, where the students bonded together when it happened. We were able to pull through it and everything is probably better than the way it was before."

Tuck is headed to graduate school after graduation. He is a biology major.

University officials have been busy trying to make sure everything is clean and in place.

Sal Rinella, outgoing university president, took a moment to reflect on the campus' post-tornado progress.

"I think that people are genuinely pleased with the progress we have made to bring the campus back online in a year, including some renovations and other improvements," said Rinella, who ends his tenure Feb. 1.

"It has also helped us to focus on the needs of our students. We're really excited about Jan. 20, when we will be formally reopening Clement Hall and putting down a marker for all the people who have helped us."

Clarksville native Christi McCord, 25, was hit particularly hard by the tornado.

"That was rough because it took our apartment. We made it through OK, it seems like the facilities are better, maybe it was a good thing in the end."

Fhenicka Cole, 23, said most people hang out in the residence halls since the University Center has been razed to make way for a new building. Cole, an education major, was not affected much by the tornado.

"It was alright, being it was the first natural disaster I have ever experienced. I was thinking a lot of people would not have come back. But now, I think the transition has been good and the mood is OK.

"I didn't go to the UC much, so I was not a UC girl. The biggest hangouts are now in the lobbies of the dorms."

Paula Williams, 26, of Hopkinsville, also a senior majoring in education, added: "Most of my classes were in Claxton (Hall), so very few of them were damaged.

"The biggest setback was with the computers. It was difficult for that transitional period. Other than that, APSU has been providing alternative places for us to handle business that was in those buildings."

Reprinted with permission of "The Leaf-Chronicle" and by Lamont Page. Published Jan. 12, 2000.