The Strawberry Statement is a 1970 American drama film set in the counterculture and student revolts of the 1960s. The story is loosely based on the non-fiction book of the same name by James Simon Kunen (who has a cameo appearance in the film) about the Columbia University protests of 1968. Plot The film follows the radicalization of Simon, an ordinary student at a fictional urban university in San Francisco, California, much like San Francisco State College (later San Francisco State University), which the actors refer to as "Western". Initially, Simon is indifferent to student protests going on around him. Accidentally walking in while his roommate is having casual sex with a co-ed, Simon protests to the roommate their time should be devoted to study so they can get good jobs and earn money. Coming back clothed, the co-ed refuses setting another date with the roommate because she'll be busy protesting. She explains the university plans to construct a gymnasium in an African-American neighborhood, causing conflict with the local African American population. She describes how students plan to occupy a university building in protest. Simon later experiences love at first sight with a co-ed (Linda) and takes advantage of his position as photographer for the college newspaper to photograph her. Following Linda into the university building as the students are taking over, he joins the protest. Linda approaches Simon as he fools around in the bathroom, then asks him to help her rob a grocery store so the strikers can eat. In a later student protest, Simon is arrested. He confesses to Linda he is not a radical like her, and does not want to "blow up the college building" after going all-out in high school to be admitted to the college in the first place. Linda later avers she can't date someone not equally dedicated to the movement. Nevertheless, she announces temporarily leaving college to decide for sure. In the shower, a right-wing jock (George) beats up Simon, who decides to take advantage of the situation and use his injuries from to claim police brutality. Gaining attention, a friend tells him "a white version of page 43" of Simon's National Geographic is in the next room; this turns out to be an attractive coed. Seeing his injured lip, she puts his hands on her right breast and asks if it feels better now. She then takes off her sweater,