American History 1988
Chapter 49 - 46 C+ Beauty

Chapter 49: Chapter 46 C+ Beauty

Cleveland State University also has fraternities, and the most famous ones like DSP, TKE, STG, SPE all have histories spanning over a hundred years. Graduates from there are scattered throughout every field in America, including politics, business, entertainment, and sports.

For instance, Ohio’s former Governor Carlton came from DSP, while Reagan was from TKE. Other business leaders such as the CEO of IBM and the founder of Wendy’s are also members of these fraternities.

Of course, these fraternities’ headquarters are not in Cleveland; this place is just one of their many Chapters across the country.

Even so, the fraternities at Cleveland State University aren’t something that country folks like Dean and the likes could join.

In plain terms, these fraternities are just a place for the kids from wealthy families to have fun, pick up girls, act cool, and build early circles of contacts.

America is also a society that values relationships. In the eyes of many students, joining a fraternity is akin to entering the elite circles of the school. Whether during their time at university or after graduation when entering society, the network from their fraternity will bring them immense advantages.

Therefore, many students can’t wait to join a fraternity as soon as they enter university. However, there are many thresholds to cross to get into a fraternity. Not to mention the severe tests, the annual membership fees of thousands of US dollars alone deter ordinary family students like Dean and Simon.

As a result, in public schools like Cleveland State University, only about 30% of the students actually join a fraternity. After all, most of the students at public universities come from fairly ordinary family backgrounds.

But in private schools, this percentage soars to around 80%; those students are from truly wealthy families. They aren’t short of money, and their family education places more emphasis on cultivating connections. For them, fraternities are their first circle of contacts before they enter society.

However, Dean still couldn’t figure out why his Price’s List or, more accurately, those performance tickets had anything to do with the fraternities.

"Dean, the life in a fraternity, although parties may occupy half of it, isn’t everything," Simon said as he meticulously trimmed his beard, introducing fraternity life to Dean.

"Besides parties, they also need to attend classes, study, and take part in some extracurricular activities. You know, fraternities are organizations, and to promote their image, they often carry out various activities. They go to the streets to distribute food to the homeless, visit the elderly in welfare homes, or organize children to watch art performances and so on. Even though it’s all fucking show, it’s indispensable, right?"

Although Simon verbally expressed disdain for fraternities everywhere, Dean could still catch a whiff of sour grapes.

"So this is why they often purchase various tickets?" Dean also put on a rather formal casual suit in front of the mirror.

"Yeah~ Besides that, people in fraternities are just humans. They also need to win the hearts of girls or go to a ball game with friends. College towns may lack other things, but they never run short of various performances," Simon, having finished shaving, turned to see Dean all dressed up and couldn’t help but spread his hands and complain.

"F*ck you, Dean, I’m kind of jealous of you now! Has anyone ever told you, you look like a young Alain Delon? Oh no, you have brown hair, and that guy is too serious.

You seem a lot livelier, exactly the type that girls like. My God, you being a nerd before was just a criminal waste," Simon lamented.

Simon deeply regretted that Dean had wasted so much precious time. Come on, not hooking up in college was like wasting the gift bestowed upon men by the Creator.

"Simon, if you keep blabbering, we’ll be late," Dean pointed at his wrist, reminding him of the time.

"Ok~ I’m keeping an eye on the time, everything is planned," Simon tied his necktie, opened the door. "The performing arts center is right beside Case’s, just about two miles across the public square."

A gust of cold wind outside made Dean instinctively shiver, "Damn, this is the most annoying part about Cleveland. Compared to cities in the south, we go through two to three more winters each year."

"But it’s also cooler in the summer, right? Come on, today I got a car from a friend, so we’re not taking the bus this time," Simon proudly rattled the keys in his hand.

"Wow~" Dean snapped his fingers in excitement, "Then we’re also making a modest contribution to America’s automotive industry."

"Of course, after all, the exhaust from a two-mile drive is proof of that."

...

The Cleveland Performing Arts Center is the city’s jewel and a beloved heart of Clevelanders. Since the 20th century, it has accompanied the city for nearly a century.

However, the Performing Arts Center isn’t the name of a single theater; it’s a complex of buildings. Ohio Theatre, State Theatre, Allen Theatre, Palace Theatre, Hanna Theatre... They stand one after another along Euclid Avenue, this area collectively known as the Cleveland Performing Arts Center.

Every year, they host millions of spectators, and when night falls, the area sparkles with stars, and the colorful lights make the whole area dazzling. Perhaps only then can Cleveland prove its former metropolitan status.

When Dean and his friends parked their car and stepped onto the street, the coming and going of pedestrians even made the weather feel not so cold. On his first walk on the streets of Cleveland, Dean’s most notable impression was that people here dressed very properly.

The view was filled with people wearing trench coats or suits, and the winter fashions of the ladies looked much more pleasing. If this were Youngstown, greasy down jackets and faded jeans would be the norm.

Even the passing cars were quite different; Pontiacs, Cadillacs, and Lincolns were common sights. Yet the most common cars Dean saw in Youngstown were Ford Pintos or old Chevrolet pickups.

"Come on, our destination is up ahead. The fraternity guys we’re meeting later are also nearby." Seeing him daydreaming, Simon patted his shoulder, signaling Dean to follow him.

After walking for a while, Simon ahead showed no sign of stopping, and Dean couldn’t help but ask curiously, "Which theatre’s tickets did you buy?"

"The Cleveland Symphony Orchestra has its own residence there—" Simon gestured toward Case Western Reserve University, "Severance Hall is right beside Case, and the last time it was renovated, Case donated more than six million US Dollars."

Well, Dean shrugged his shoulders. He had completely lost all concept of that amount of money.

As they moved through the throng of people, within ten minutes they arrived at the outskirts of the performance center. It was noticeably quieter here than on Euclid Avenue.

You could tell that the buildings around were relatively young, probably a newly built complex in the university town over the last decade.

"Look, that’s Severance Hall." Simon pointed out a limestone building filled with Greek classical style to Dean.

Soft blue cold lights shone upwards on the grey limestone facade, lending the majestic building an added touch of elegance. Down the stone steps, the front door’s three porticos emitted a splendid golden light.

"Oh~shit, if I had a girlfriend, I definitely wouldn’t bring her here," Dean said with conviction as he looked at Severance Hall.

"Why?" Simon turned around, curious.

"Because it would make me look like a country bumpkin~" Dean straightened the hem of his suit jacket and took the lead towards the steps.

The two blended into the crowd, trying to look like regulars. After presenting their two tickets, they smoothly made their entrance inside.

If the outside glimpse was impressive to Dean, then the inside was simply sumptuous beyond measure.

Merely an oval foyer was decorated extremely lavishly, with numerous huge chandeliers overhead, complex patterns on the ceiling, and gold decorations establishing its theme.

At this moment, Dean couldn’t help but wonder, did the students in the university town really like this place? It seemed too damn serious.

No doubt about it, Dean’s and Simon’s seats were at the very back. Madonna’s photoshoot wouldn’t even trade for a seat closer to the front.

Since there were students from the music academy performing tonight, the audience area was filled with many young students who came to show support. The arrival of their peers made Dean and Simon quite more relaxed.

But what the hell was that above their heads? Dean looked up to see countless silver leaves sparkling with dazzling light, and the gently curved ceiling was covered in irregular patterns.

All those damn beads of light formed patterns—this was too extravagant.

"Simon, I want to take off my trousers right now and jack off right here. This place is too fucking clean, so clean it fills you with desire."

"Mother F*cker, Dean, I’m having the same thought!"

Dean laughed and bumped fists with him, so they were destined not to be regulars here.

"They are here," Simon nudged Dean’s arm.

"Who?" Dean followed Simon’s gaze and saw a group of blondes sitting down in the rows in front of them, laughing softly.

"Case beauties, you know, Dean? In all of America’s universities, Case has a beauty index of C+."

Don’t think C+ is much, but in a place like Ohio, that’s already high beautiful girl territory.

Didn’t you see that since they arrived, Simon couldn’t take his eyes off them?

Dean glanced twice and then lost interest; truth be told, neither Susie nor Karen were inferior to them.

Moreover, Dean had driven enough cars, and he had developed some immunity to these blondes.

Somehow, the concert hall’s lights gradually dimmed. Amid a round of applause, the members of the symphony orchestra made their entrance one by one.

Just like Simon said, many of them were young students. However, one girl in a long red dress holding a cello still caught Dean’s attention.

Her slender figure, dark brown long hair, and skin as milky as her complexion made Dean sit up straight.

Okay, he took back what he said. If it was this level of a C+ girl, he wasn’t completely immune after all.