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
Jake Pfeiffer

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief

Jake Pfeiffer is a senior, entering his third year on the Central Times staff, this time as Editor-in-Chief. Jake joined CT as a sophomore because he wanted to write news, but since then he has grown to love just about every element of journalism. While it is rare to see Jake anywhere other than the CT office, occasionally you can find him captaining Central’s debate team, watching baseball, listening to a seemingly endless amount of podcasts or drowning in college applications.

All content by Jake Pfeiffer
Former First Lady Michelle Obama speaks to the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 20. She was followed by former President Barack Obama.

Blog: Diary at the DNC, Day 2

Jake Pfeiffer, Alumni Correspondent • August 21, 2024
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Science teacher Paige Lundquist leads her third period Honors Biology class on May 10.

[Photo] D203 Board of Education approves major changes to science course pathway

Nolan Shen, Arts & Entertainment Editor • May 23, 2024
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Proposed co-curricular code revision to include remediation for code violations

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • May 20, 2024
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"The variety of classes that CTE offers is far greater than [science] and probably always will be. Because you offer such a great variety, you have lower individual enrollment in classes because you have so much more to pick from as opposed to science for like freshman and sophomore year." - Science department chair Dan Olandese

[Photo] 76% of weighted Career and Technical Education course enrollment is male. Here’s why.

Javen Oswald, Marketing, Outreach and Engagement Managing Editor • May 17, 2024
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Blog: Notes From the Field, part six

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • May 13, 2024
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Blog: Notes From the Field, part five

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • May 12, 2024
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Seventh and eighth grade Project Idea Plus students spend most of their day learning in “the pod,” a mobile classroom at Kennedy Junior High School.

PI+ or PI-? A student-centered evaluation of District 203’s Project Idea Plus program

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • April 26, 2024
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The Oakland Coliseum, the current home of the Oakland Athletics. The A's will be moving to Sacramento for the next three years, before permanently relocating to Las Vegas in 2028 or 2029.

Column: Sacramento Sacrilege

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • April 23, 2024
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Carlo Rindi Nuzzolo, a Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions Post-Doctoral Global Fellow, performs a 3D scan of Naperville Central's ancient Egyptian mummy.

Central mummy 3D-scanned for international research project

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • April 12, 2024
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Blog: Notes From the Field, part four

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • April 12, 2024
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Social studies teacher Mike Wilson was named as Central's boys basketball coach for the 2024-25 season.

New boys basketball head coach named for 2024-25 season

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • April 5, 2024
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Orchestra director Jesse Gross traveled all across the U.S., playing shows in theaters that ranged from 800 to 3,800 seats, gross met his future wife in the cast he toured with.

[Photo] Humans of Central: Jesse Gross

Jayanti Dar, Staff Writer • April 3, 2024
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Athletic Director Chris Kirkpatrick watches over Red & White Night on Aug. 19, 2022. Kirkpatrick will be stepping down from his position on June 30.

[Photo] Athletic Director to step down at end of June

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • April 3, 2024
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Opinion: Why you should have to pay to park in Downtown Naperville

Opinion: Why you should have to pay to park in Downtown Naperville

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • April 3, 2024
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Sophomore forward Malia Shen (27) celebrates her second of two goals during Central’s 4-2 win over Burlington Central in their opening game on March 13.

Girls soccer starts season with seven underclassmen, including three freshmen, on varsity roster

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • March 26, 2024
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The dugout of a Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) stadium. America's Major League Baseball (MLB) recently held two regular season games in Korea as a part of their MLB World Tour initiative.

Column: Tour Turnaround

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • March 25, 2024
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The currently-unused Staff Cafeteria is one of two locations proposed for the in-house coffee shop, which would be installed for the 2024-25 school year.

[Photo] OrganicLife proposes two plans for Central coffee shop to be ready by next school year

C.J. Getting, News Editor • March 28, 2024
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Blog: Notes From the Field, part three

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • March 22, 2024
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Gabe Dickerson, then a senior, pitches in the Dupage Valley Conference Championship on May. 18, 2023. Dickerson and 14 other seniors graduated last year, leaving Central with a nearly entirely new roster for the 2024 season.

Baseball looks to succeed after losing 15 seniors, near-entire starting lineup, to graduation

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • March 21, 2024
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Substitute teacher Madalyn Eathington leads an Honors English 2: Journalism class on March 15. Substitute teacher pay rates have jumped by $20 over the past few years due to a shortage of subs.

[Photo] Board of Education approves $5 daily increase in substitute pay

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • March 20, 2024
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Neil Duncan, the current P.E. department chair, will step down at the end of the 2023-24 school year. (Photo Credit: 2023 Flight Yearbook)

P.E. department chair to step down at end of school year

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • March 19, 2024
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Boys basketball head coach Pete Kramer watches his team during their 51-43 victory over Oswego in the IHSA Regional Quarter Final on Feb. 19.

Photo Gallery: Central’s boys basketball head coach retires after 33 years in program, 21 as head coach

Jake Pfeiffer and Jay Deegan • March 6, 2024
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Senior Dylan Meadows explores the "Unvarnished" exhibit displayed on Central's second floor with his African-American Literature class on Feb. 28.

‘Unvarnished’ housing discrimination exhibit comes to Central

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • March 5, 2024
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The student section celebrates at a Central Basketball game versus Oswego on Feb. 19.

Column: Sporting Spirit

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • March 4, 2024
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Blog: Notes From the Field, part two

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • February 21, 2024
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Everton, an English Premier League team, was deducted 10 points earlier this season because of their violations of profitability and sustainability rules.

Column: Financial (un)fair play

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • February 12, 2024
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COVID-19, Three Years On: Math SAT exam scores reflect online, hybrid learning difficulties

COVID-19, Three Years On: Math SAT exam scores reflect online, hybrid learning difficulties

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • February 6, 2024
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Sophomore June Waidler practices with band director D.J. Alstadt at a lunchtime technique lesson in Central's band room. Waidler is one of several students Alstadt works with as a part of technique.

Technique courses receive mixed feedback from students, staff

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • January 26, 2024
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Snow piles up outside of Naperville Central on Jan. 15th. An e-learning day was called for the next day due to severe wind chills, and one week later due to icy road conditions.

District 203 calls third e-learning day in three weeks for Tuesday, Jan. 23

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • January 23, 2024
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Blog: Notes From the Field, part one

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • January 22, 2024
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Snow piles up in front of Central on Jan. 15, after 6.5 inches of snow fell on Jan. 12 and 13. An e-learning day was called on Jan. 12 due to the snow, and on Jan. 16 due to an ensuing cold front.

[Photo] District 203 calls second consecutive e-learning day for Tuesday, Jan. 16

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • January 15, 2024
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Shohei Ohtani, formerly of the Los Angeles Angels, recently signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Column: Shohei’s Stacks

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • December 28, 2023
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Contestants await the announcement of the winner of the 2018 Mr. NCHS pageant.

[Photo] Dynamic Duos, replacement to Mr. NCHS, struggles with low sign ups

Nolan Shen, Arts & Entertainment Editor • December 22, 2023
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Running down the court, sophomore Ava Rybarczyk looks to make a basket during a game against Neuqua Valley on Dec. 7. The team's current record is 2-8.

‘It’s definitely been challenging’: Girls basketball starts 2-8

Selah Lee and Jake Pfeiffer • December 20, 2023
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Sophomore Adam Fleming performs with Central's Trombone Choir at the music department's "Winter Festival" on Dec. 8.

[Photo] Music department holds “Winter Festival”

Elaine Zhou, Features Editor • December 19, 2023
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A Naperville Fire Department truck pulls into Central's parking lot to respond to a fire alarm triggered on Dec. 13.

Third fire alarm at Central this semester triggered by smoke in cafeteria serving line

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • December 13, 2023
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Senior Maeve Shamo conducts Central's Symphonic Band at the Nov. 9 concert in Central's auditorium.

[Photo] Fine Arts Capstone students take a ‘deep dive’ into music

Kate Johnson, Staff Writer • December 7, 2023
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The Los Angeles Lakers' (very ugly) in-season tournament court.

Column: Marketing mayhem

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • November 27, 2023
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Column: Realignment wreckage

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • October 20, 2023
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Screenshot 2023-10-16 at 4.26.30 PM

[Photo] Sections of freshman level AP courses triple after new law passed

C.J. Getting and Nolan Shen • October 20, 2023
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Central’s football team sets up for a kick attempt during the Crosstown Classic on Oct. 10 against Naperville North at North Central College. During the 2024 season, the annual matchup will be classified as a non-conference game due to a conference merger.

DuPage Valley Conference to merge with Southwest Suburban Conference for football

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • October 13, 2023
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Heat waves rock Central, classes impacted by historic heat

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • October 9, 2023
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Junior running back Aiden Clark breaks a tackle on his way into the endzone for his first touchdown of the night in Central's 42-0 home win over Dekalb on Oct. 6.

Central Football clinches DVC title with win over DeKalb

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • October 6, 2023
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Room 218 was closed due to exterior construction in Sept. It will reopen for classes on Oct. 2.

Classes to move back to originally-scheduled rooms

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • September 29, 2023
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Column: Stop Saudi sports washing

Column: Stop Saudi sports washing

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • September 25, 2023
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The view of Central's football stadium from Room 222, one of five rooms at an Aug. 26 SAT Exam that were affected by noise coming from the stadium.

SAT scores delayed after test day disruptions

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • September 21, 2023
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2023-2024 Print Archive

Jake Pfeiffer, Jay Deegan, Javen Oswald, Noah Rozek, and Alice Wang • September 19, 2023
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Senior forward Jonathan Stohner fights for the ball with Sandburg opponent during a game that resulted in a Central win on Aug. 31. Stohner is one of the few Varsity players in their same position as last year.

Boys soccer adapts to loss of top goalscorers

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • September 19, 2023
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Grading!

[Photo] Central implements new grading policies

C.J. Getting, News Editor • September 16, 2023
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Drum majors and seniors Bianca Cima (front left), and Athena Chen (front right), lead Central's marching band onto the field for their performance at Central's Red and White Night.

[Photo] Photo Gallery: Red and White Night

Kathryn Prerost, Multimedia Editor • September 15, 2023
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Central's student section cheers on the varsity football scrimage at Central's Red and White Night.

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Girls cross country runner and senior Ava Hendren nears the finish line at her team's race during Central's Red and White Night.

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Advertisement for the new athletic department app.

Athletic department unveils new app

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • September 14, 2023
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Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano in "Star Wars: Ahsoka." Photo Source: Disney+

Review: “Ahsoka” is powered by nostalgia, but that isn’t a bad thing

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • September 7, 2023
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Defensive end Maverick Ohle (9), a senior, celebrates a defensive stop in Central's game against Plainfield North on Sept. 1. The Redhawks went on to win the game 6-3.

Football wins defensive battle 6-3 over Plainfield North

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • September 1, 2023
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Signs redirect students from Central's main elevator after it broke down on Aug. 29.

Several classes relocated after elevator breaks down

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • August 30, 2023
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Relocated students work in Central's auditorium on Aug 24.

Classes relocated, homeroom canceled due to excessive heat

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • August 24, 2023
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A wall at Central had exterior bricks removed after District 203's Board of Education gave emergency approval for repairs of exterior walls near Central's little Theatre and door 7.

D203 Board gives emergency authorization for wall removal at Central

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • August 10, 2023
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Following the discovery of structural damage, the wall between Central's door 7 and Little Theater is set to be torn down and rebuilt.

Structural issues found at Central; exterior wall to be rebuilt

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • August 4, 2023
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Two Central competitors win Track and Field state titles

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • August 3, 2023
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Senior center fielder Clay Schrader hits a fly out into left field. The out was both the last of Central's 4-1 loss to Plainfield East and of the Redhawks season.

Baseball eliminated from IHSA State Playoffs in first round

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • May 27, 2023
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9: Freshamn Natalie Lau throws the ball to first during a softball game against West Chicago on May 3. With Lau being perfectly centered in the middle of the frame, the ball being in focus and no blur, this easily deserves ninth place on our list.

[Photo] Opinion: Our top 10 photos of 2022-23

Jay Deegan and D'Niya Little-Segers • May 29, 2023
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Column: A synthesis of sorts

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • May 25, 2023
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The space once occupied by Central's school store is set to be occupied by the coffee shop after its installation. The space is located near door 7, in the corner of Central's cafeteria.

[Photo] In-house coffee shop to be installed at Central for 2023-24 school year

Jay Deegan, Editorial Editor • May 23, 2023
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Cal Kestus and his droid companion BD-1 look out across the planet Koboh in “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.” This maybe one of the prettiest things I’ve ever seen in a Star Wars story. Photo Source: Lucasfilm

Review: ‘Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’ is Star Wars gaming at its best

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • May 15, 2023
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Aramark employees cook stir fry to be served to Central students on May 2. Aramark is set to be replaced by OrganicLife as District 203's food service provider on July 1, 2023.

District 203 approves OrganicLife as new food service provider

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • May 2, 2023
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Central alum Jayden Reed was drafted into the NFL by the Green Bay Packers out of Michigan State University on April 28.

Central alum Jayden Reed drafted into the NFL

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • April 28, 2023
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Column: America’s game no more

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • April 11, 2023
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2023 Board of Education candidate bio: Melissa Kelley Black

2023 Board of Education candidate bio: Melissa Kelley Black

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • March 26, 2023
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The 2023 District 203 Board of Education candidates. From left to right: Ronald Amato, Kristine Gericke, Melissa Kelley Black, Joe Kozminski and Gilbert Wagner.

2023 Board of Education election preview

Jake Pfeiffer and Nolan Shen • March 26, 2023
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2023 Board of Education candidate Q&A: Melissa Kelley Black

2023 Board of Education candidate Q&A: Melissa Kelley Black

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • March 26, 2023
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2023 Board of Education candidate Q&A: Ronald Amato

2023 Board of Education candidate Q&A: Ronald Amato

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • March 26, 2023
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2023 Board of Education candidate Q&A: Gilbert Wagner

2023 Board of Education candidate Q&A: Gilbert Wagner

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • March 26, 2023
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2023 Board of Education candidate bio: Gilbert Wagner

2023 Board of Education candidate bio: Gilbert Wagner

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • March 26, 2023
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2023 Board of Education candidate bio: Ronald Amato

2023 Board of Education candidate bio: Ronald Amato

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • March 26, 2023
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The District 203 board members and administrators drink Dasani water bottles at board meetings. PHOTO SOURCE: DISTRICT 203 BOARD OF EDUCATION

Opinion: To save the environment, start with the small things

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • March 22, 2023
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Senior Clay Schrader practices batting in the cage with junior catcher Danny Vogel

[Photo] Baseball coaches find new ways to challenge their players

Evelyn Zwicky, Sports Editor • March 20, 2023
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Column: Saving Soldier

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • February 27, 2023
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A shelf at the Nichols Library shows the new prize and rules for the Naperville Public Library's Amazing Book Challenge.

[Photo] Naperville Public Library launches updated Amazing Book Challenge

Vasu Dar, Copy Editor • February 24, 2023
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Column: Where’s the doctor?

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor & Copy Editor • February 2, 2023
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Central administration blocks ChatGPT

Jake Pfeiffer, News Editor • February 2, 2023
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