A group of radical student activists have taken over one of Hudson University's buildings, saying they'll only leave if their 12 demands are met. The president resigns, and the board decides to replace him with Paco Perez (Anthony Quinn), professor of sociology, due to his history of activism. Perez negotiates with the leaders of the protestors, Rossiter (Gary Lockwood) and Steve Dempsey (Paul Winfield). Meanwhile, his girlfriend Rhoda (Ann-Margret) worries that his new power will go to his head.
R. P. M. contains examples of:
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: Coach McCurdy (Norman Burton) tells Perez, "They have no values, these kids. No ethics, no morals, and no decency. And no school spirit."
- Interrupted Intimacy: Perez is in bed with Rhoda when he gets a phone call telling him to come to a board meeting. When he arrives, he complains, "This better be important, gentlemen. I was in the midst of a project."
- Police Brutality: When the police come to remove the students from the building, some of them beat unarmed protestors with batons.
- Teacher/Student Romance: Rhoda is a 25-year-old grad student who had read all Perez's books before they met.
