Allan Campbell is the dean of a small but prestigious New England college. He has taken the position against the advice of his colleagues who warn him that he's jeopardizing a very promising literary career by doing so. He gives their warnings little thought until one Monday morning when he is informed that a young woman was raped the previous Saturday evening at a fraternity party and has accused a faculty member of being the rapist. As one tragic event follows another it becomes increasingly clear to Allan how totally unprepared he is to handle this kind of a situation.