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Vanderbilt University's football program tweeted an image Thursday declaring that its players "don't need your permission," prompting a backlash on Twitter. Earlier this year two Vanderbilt football players were found guilty of gang-raping another student. The trial was later ruled a mistrial on a technicality, and the case will go to trial again at a later date. "We are relentless, tough and intelligent, and …" the since-deleted tweeted read, followed by an image that stated, "we don't need your permission." Users on Twitter criticized the tweet as tone-deaf and upsetting. The university later responded, apologizing for the tweet.
"It's not a comment about sexual assault," the university stated. "Sex without permission is always wrong and not accepted. Sexual assault is not acceptable at Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt athletics and Vanderbilt football."
