Naperville Central High School's award-winning newspaper.

Central Times
Naperville Central High School's award-winning newspaper.

Central Times
Naperville Central High School's award-winning newspaper.

Central Times
Braden Hajer

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist

Braden’s a senior on staff, with this being his second year. He’s (unofficially) the paper’s resident Funnyman and Kanyeisseur. His main interests are music, politics, history and internet culture. Most of what he writes is surreal malarkey. He’s still a proud Bowser main in Smash Ultimate.

All content by Braden Hajer

Guest opinion: District 203’s embarrassing crusade to destroy Latin highlights the corporatization of education

Braden Hajer, Correspondent • October 17, 2022
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Column: An exciting announcement!

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor • May 28, 2021
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Column: A modest COVID recovery plan for NCHS

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • April 22, 2021
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We ranked every national anthem

We ranked every national anthem

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • April 16, 2021
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Album cover image courtesy of Luaka Bop Records

Review: ‘Promises’ a drop-dead gorgeous album

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • April 13, 2021
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Review: Take the Cage pill and see “Willy’s Wonderland”

Review: Take the Cage pill and see “Willy’s Wonderland”

Braden Hajer and Nick Bird • March 25, 2021
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Column: You can help make Illinois students more media literate

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • March 7, 2021
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Column: My guiding word for 2021

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • February 23, 2021
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Review: 2020’s five best albums

Review: 2020’s five best albums

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • December 28, 2020
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Column: Dear God, calm down about your grades

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • December 22, 2020
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Photo Source: Chicago Tribune

Column: Kan-pensation

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • October 20, 2020
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Photo source: 88rising Music/12Tone Music, LLC

Joji’s ‘Nectar’ isn’t worth your time or mine

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • October 1, 2020
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Teachers are being encouraged to teach from their classrooms to help foster a sense of normalcy, but the absence of students from classrooms is hardly normal. District 203 does not give teachers the option to teach completely from home.

Column: The Quest for Normalcy and why e-learning isn’t working

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • September 11, 2020
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Photo credit: Fox Business

Kanye… 2020?

Braden Hajer, Columnist & Copy Editor • July 8, 2020
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Westworld: Kanye draws strength from God, makes weakest album

Westworld: Kanye draws strength from God, makes weakest album

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • June 15, 2020
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Westworld: 'Ghosts' is Kanye at his absolute wackiest

Westworld: ‘Ghosts’ is Kanye at his absolute wackiest

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • June 8, 2020
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Westworld: 'Ye' better than an A

Westworld: ‘Ye’ better than an A

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • June 1, 2020
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'The Life of Pablo' is Kanye at his Kanye-est

‘The Life of Pablo’ is Kanye at his Kanye-est

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • May 29, 2020
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Westworld: Dense 'Yeezus' easier to respect than enjoy

Westworld: Dense ‘Yeezus’ easier to respect than enjoy

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • May 25, 2020
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Westworld: Kanye at his most mainstream

Westworld: Kanye at his most mainstream

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • May 18, 2020
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Westworld: Two kings crowd 'Throne'

Westworld: Two kings crowd ‘Throne’

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • May 15, 2020
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Westworld: The Universe's Favorite

Westworld: The Universe’s Favorite

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • May 11, 2020
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Westworld: The sublime '808s' arguably Kanye's greatest

Westworld: The sublime ‘808s’ arguably Kanye’s greatest

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • May 8, 2020
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Westworld: 'Weird' third album a fractional disappointment

Westworld: ‘Weird’ third album a fractional disappointment

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • May 4, 2020
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Westworld: Classic Kanye's masterpiece

Westworld: Classic Kanye’s masterpiece

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • May 1, 2020
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West College

Westworld: A debut for the history books

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • April 27, 2020
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Westworld: Quarantine with Kanye

Westworld: Quarantine with Kanye

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • April 24, 2020
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Column: A Solemn Update

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • April 13, 2020
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Plant Reviews

Plant Reviews

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • March 25, 2020
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Column: I could beat Bernie Sanders in a fight

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • March 15, 2020
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Column: My guiding word for 2020

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • February 20, 2020
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Eminem MTBMB

Review: Eminem’s ‘Music To Be Murdered By’ is a dysfunctional robot circus

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • January 27, 2020
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Looking back at this year’s top 5 albums

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • January 6, 2020
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Column: I’m running for president

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • December 17, 2019
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Column: Andrew Yang is the Future of America

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • November 21, 2019
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Column: Guys you’ve got to cool it with the ice

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • November 12, 2019
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A Muddest Proposal

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor & Columnist • November 6, 2019
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"Jesus is King" album cover

Album Review: ‘Jesus is King’ dethrones Kanye

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor, Columnist • October 25, 2019
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Column: No, Chicago Tribune, its not the academic pressure

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor, Columnist • October 1, 2019
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Review: Compositionally, Taylor Swift's 'Lover' stands out about as much as its title

Review: Compositionally, Taylor Swift’s ‘Lover’ stands out about as much as its title

Braden Hajer, Copy Editor, columnist • September 29, 2019
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Pucylowski

[Photo] Naperville Central welcomes new staff members for the 2019-2020 school year

Vivian Zhao, Editor-in-Chief • September 4, 2019
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