Baptist Press is reporting that students at Union  University in Jackson Tennessee were trapped in their dorms after a tornado flattened  parts of the campus tonight. (updates below)

The Union  website is down, university officials are trying to find alternate ways to get news for parents and family online.

A third of the buildings on the 290 acre campus are reported damaged or destroyed.  Hurt Complex and Watters Complex as well as Jennings Hall were heavily damaged. According to the school president the physical damage on the campus is 10 times worse than it was in 2002.
86 people were injured tonight as tornadoes hit three states, a family of three died in Arkansas. (Update: 13 are dead)

Local media is reporting 12 students sustained minor injuries. The Southern Baptist school has about 3500 students, about 1 thousand were on campus when the tornado hit.

Union University in Jackson, Tenn., sustained heavy tornado damage Tuesday evening at approximately 7 pm when a line of heavy thunderstorms rushed through the area.

At 8:15 central, news and information director, Tim Ellsworth, reported that students were still trapped by debris in their dorms. At least four of those students have been rescued. Dorms in both the men’s and women’s areas have been destroyed.

“We currently have no serious injuries that we know of and rescue operations are still continuing,” Ellsworth said. “Many buildings sustained heavy damage.”

The Union University Web site is down and Ellsworth said the school is trying to find an alternate means for posting information.

Baptist Press has details and is updating as information becomes available.

Union University President David Dockery has told local news there were no deaths on campus, contrary to national reports.

The school will be closed until  Friday,  classes are cancelled through next week.
 Local news - ABC has details of where parents can pick up students, (Stein Mart parking lot north of Union U) and what roads are closed. 

Note: as of posting the area is still under a severe weather watch until midnight Jackson Tn time.
Update: Union University Communications director Tim Ellsworth says  50 students were taken to hospitals, 8 with serious injuries, none life threatening.

Update: The Union University website is back online, information for students, staff, parents and volunteers is being posted as warrented.

Jackson Sun
Memphis Commerical Appeal
In the vortex - storm chaser blog
College confidential forum
Also updating: Pursuing the Truth