--- title: When the Brat Pack Took Over College Park date: 2025-06-25T05:30:00-04:00 author: University of Maryland canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/when-the-brat-pack-took-over-college-park" section: Articles --- # When the Brat Pack Took Over College Park *June 25, 2025* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih) > 40 Years After ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ Filmed on Frat Row, Alums Look Back *St Elmos Fire 1920x1080 — Scenes from "St. Elmo's Fire" filming at UMD in 1984. From left: Miguel Lopez '87 with a blonde Demi Moore; Howard Schacter ’87 in the white and yellow shirt with Rob Lowe; and Andrew McCarthy surrounded by Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sisters.* Dig out those acid wash jeans, blast some synth-pop and plug in your crimper—it’s time for a little trip back to the 1980s. Decades before Demi Moore staged an Oscar-nominated comeback and Rob Lowe (literally!) ditched his mullet to become a network TV staple, the Brat Pack stars were in College Park, strolling by the University of Maryland’s classic red brick and white-columned buildings. “St. Elmo’s Fire,” the hit coming-of-age movie released 40 years ago on Saturday, also starred Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Andie MacDowell and Mare Winningham. It followed the post-graduation exploits of recent Georgetown University graduates—but the school wouldn’t let them film there. *Brat Pack stars in graduation regalia walking across Frat Row while being filmed — Lisa Claps Usher ’86 snapped a photo of the iconic cap and gown scene being filmed on Fraternity Row.* --- *Howard Schacter in a white and yellow shirt and jeans next to Rob Lowe in black shirt and pants — Howard Schacter, left, with Rob Lowe. (Photo by David Weissman ’86)* --- **Robin Manougian ’87** “I was at dance team practice across the street with the Mighty Sound of Maryland,” Manougian said. “I remember someone from production coming over and saying, ‘Can you guys not play right now?’ It was kind of funny. We definitely had a front-row seat.” Since Maryland basketball “was huge back then,” she and her friends held out hope that the filmmakers would change the setting. In the end, “we were a little bummed. They’re filming here, why did they graduate from Georgetown?” But that didn’t stop them from watching the movie in theaters three times. --- *Demi Moore in a white dress and black graduation gown holding a cigarette with Miguel Lopez in a visor, striped shirt and colorful shorts — Miguel Lopez, right, with Demi Moore.* --- **Roberta Offenhutter Lasky ’88** In a break between classes, Lasky headed down to see some of her favorite stars: Moore from “General Hospital” and Lowe from “The Outsiders.” “There was a trailer and some other students and women hanging out. He popped out and said hi, wearing the red tie. It was fun!” she said. “He was just cute and we were the lucky ones who got to see them at our school.” --- *Andrew McCarthy surrounded by sorority girls on Fraternity Row — Clockwise from top left: Kristi Baker ’87, Andrew McCarthy, Jana Ifkovitz Rizzo ’84, Lisa Claps Usher ’86, Kelly Brady, Marlene Sadowsky Aisenberg ’86* --- **Eric M. Platt ’85** Platt was in the right place at the right time as crew members knocked on doors around the Fraternity Row for extras. “We got paid almost $100 a day, which was big money back then—good money for the ’Vous,” he said. “During the actors’ lunch break, I eyed Demi Moore struggling to open a bottle of cranberry juice. I went over and gave the damsel in distress a little help. My brush with fame!” Though they filmed on hot days, producers wanted the extras in fall sweaters and even brought in fans to blow leaves around, he recalled. His job was to walk in the background of one of the scenes, and production would say, “You’ve got to walk faster! You’ve got to walk with more confidence!” In the end, he was part of a minor continuity error: If you catch a student in an argyle sweater and a red backpack walking in two different directions in the same scene, that’s Platt. --- *Rob Lowe under a white and yellow striped umbrella in the middle of film equipment and crew on Fraternity Row — Rob Lowe taking a break from filming on Fraternity Row. (Photo by Lisa Claps Usher '86)* **Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community) **Tags:** [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)