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
C.J. Getting

C.J. Getting, Hawk Talk Editor

C.J. Getting is a senior in his fourth year on the Central Times. After reporting on the DNC, he’s excited to continue his coverage of critical news stories. Outside of CT, C.J. is the President of Student Advisory Council and writes for #HalfTheStory, a digital wellness nonprofit. He also spends an unhealthy amount of time on Google Sheets. After graduation, C.J. hopes to major in Political Science and spend too much money on Law School someday.

All content by C.J. Getting
Campus or career? How rising costs and shifting priorities are cutting college enrollment across Illinois

Campus or career? How rising costs and shifting priorities are cutting college enrollment across Illinois

C.J. Getting, Staff Writer • February 19, 2025
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TurningPointUSA Executive Director Charlie Kirk talks with attendees at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. A longtime critic of higher education for both political and economic reasons, Kirk published “The College Scam: How America’s Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away the Future of America’s Youth” in 2022.

Youth voices amplified

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • September 5, 2024
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Nichols Library is the closest of Naperville Public Library's three locations to Central.

Naperville Public Library e-book investment reaches historic high

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • January 30, 2025
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Aisles at Nichols Library are empty on Jan. 15. Across Naperville and nationally, students are reading less and for shorter durations, often avoiding long-form texts like those found in libraries.

Skipping chapters: How decreasing reading stamina impacts college readiness

C.J. Getting and Sarah Segvich • January 28, 2025
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District 203 Board of Education approves new courses, removals

District 203 Board of Education approves new courses, removals

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • December 13, 2024
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Students in the 2024 cohort of KidsMatter's Teen Philanthropy Initiative pose for a photo at their grant allocation ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Naperville Municipal Center. (Photo credit: KidsMatter)

Inspiring a future in philanthropy: KidsMatter’s Teen Philanthropy Initiative

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • November 18, 2024
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Senior Helen Liang analyzes the tax forms for Youth Voices, a local student-led nonprofit. Liang helped lead free debate coaching with the organization's leadership development team until the program was discontinued in December 2023.

Beyond good intentions: why student-led nonprofits fail at longevity

C.J. Getting and Marina Micic • November 17, 2024
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Left: A SMART board in Room 218 on Oct. 9. The displays have been in use for approximately 10 years. Right: A V7 interactive display in Room 303 on Oct. 9. The displays can operate separately from a teacher’s computer and do not need a projector.

Decade-old SMART Boards replaced with new displays

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • October 16, 2024
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Students wait in line to order from Central's in-house coffee shop. It's located across from the main cafeteria’s serving lines, which was previously the faculty cafeteria.

OrganicLife: ‘no plans’ to reinstate staff lunches

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • October 4, 2024
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Confidential student information released in District 203 data leak

Confidential student information released in District 203 data leak

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • September 26, 2024
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District updates reassessment policy to 85% maximum

District updates reassessment policy to 85% maximum

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • September 18, 2024
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Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz celebrate during the balloon drop on Thursday, Aug. 22 at the Democratic National Convention. The Harris-Walz ticket won 98.9% of the delegate vote, earning the Democratic nomination for President and Vice President.

Photo Gallery: 2024 Democratic National Convention

Jay Deegan, Sarah Segvich, and C.J. Getting • September 17, 2024
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OrganicLife partnered with Big Shoulders Coffee to create Central's new coffee shop. It offers a variety of coffee and breakfast items.

Central opens new coffee shop after year delay

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • September 9, 2024
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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear talks to reporters at the United Center. At 46 years old, Beshear is the second-youngest Democratic governor in the U.S.

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President Joe Biden embraces Vice President Kamala Harris after his keynote address on Monday, Aug. 19. Biden endorsed Harris after dropping out of the race on July 21.

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Jill Biden watches the convention on Monday, Aug. 19 from the creator platform, a place for social media influencers to film content. More than 200 credentialed content creators attended the DNC in Chicago.

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Top Issues for Young Voters (18-29) (8.5 x 17 in)

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“Hopefully vote Trump and vote for a better country, because we had one four years ago,” Charlie Kirk said. Kirk is the founder of Turning Point USA, the largest conservative youth activist organization in the U.S., with over 250,000 student members.

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A child holds up a sign reading "stop bombing kids" during a protest on Monday, Aug. 19. Since Oct. 7, more than 10,000 children have been killed in Gaza, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

Thousands march on DNC, demand ‘ceasefire now!’

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • August 31, 2024
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Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) holds a "Kamala" sign high during the fourth night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Schumer is an PLEO delegate due to his senate seat.

Delegates attend 2024 DNC in Chicago, nominate Kamala Harris for President

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • August 28, 2024
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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during the final night of the DNC. Whitmer currently serves as the co-chair of the Kamala Harris campaign.

Blog: Diary at the DNC, Day 4

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • August 25, 2024
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Boys varsity soccer will headline Central's Red & White Night on Friday, Aug. 23. Previously, the headliner was varsity football, who will now scrimmage at Wheaton-Warrenville South.

Varsity football to scrimmage at Wheaton-Warrenville South, boys soccer to headline Red & White Night

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • August 22, 2024
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President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden wave to the crowd at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 19. President Biden addressed the Democratic National Convention as the final speaker of the night.

[Photo] Blog: Diary at the DNC, Day 1

Sarah Segvich, Content Managing Editor • August 21, 2024
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2024-2025 Print Archive

Jay Deegan, C.J. Getting, Kate Johnson, Elaine Zhou, Cheryl Cheng, Emma Coneys, Lola Schwerha, and Marina Micic • August 15, 2024
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Sophomores Lilly Jia (far left) and Audrey Cheng (left) instruct competitors at Clover Math’s elementary and middle school math competition, hosted at Central on April 26. Clover Math is an organization founded by four District 203 juniors.

Student-led math organization hosts competition

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • May 21, 2024
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From left to right, Robert Zoellick, Dr. Catherine Adrian DeRidder, Matt DiCianni and Ben Hutchison pose after becoming Central’s newest Distinguished Alumni at a ceremony on May 3.

Central inducts four new distinguished alumni in 25th annual ceremony

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • May 20, 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.

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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Senior Reham Fahad, JSA president, speaks at the group's Winter Congress in Washington, D.C.

Central Junior State of America chapter travels to Washington, D.C. for conference

C.J. Getting and Cole Miller • March 21, 2024
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Sophomore Grace Siuda dances at Central’s Winter Dance on Feb. 10, 2024. The 2024 dance had the lowest attendance on record, despite several changes made to the event. (Photo Credit: Lifetouch)

Central’s Winter Dance suffers record low turnout despite changes for 2024

C.J. Getting, News Editor • March 6, 2024
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French teacher Jeremy Whitt leads his fifth period AP French class. New changes to middle school World and Classical Language classes may impact student readiness for high school French and Spanish classes, like those that Whitt teaches.

Middle school language program changes receive negative feedback from students, staff alike

C.J. Getting, News Editor • February 16, 2024
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Central students wait to pick up food from Central's cafe. Central's food is provided by OrganicLife, who are in their first year as District 203's food service provider.

OrganicLife update: Still no coffee shop, staff lunches for Central

C.J. Getting, News Editor • February 15, 2024
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Members of the sophomore dodgeball team run to collect balls during the Feb. 5 winter week assembly.

Winter week to include Monday assembly, party-focused dance

C.J. Getting, News Editor • February 5, 2024
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Senior Isabel Deer paints the windows in front of Central's Learning Commons for Latin Club's homecoming decorations on Sep. 29.

Latin club works to supplement loss Latin program at Central

C.J. Getting, News Editor • December 23, 2023
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Jayne Willard, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, explains the changes to Exploratory classes at the Dec. 18 Board of Education meeting. (Photo Credit: District 203)

District 203 English Learner and middle school elective programs to be ‘reimagined’ after Board of Education vote

C.J. Getting, News Editor • December 21, 2023
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Allison Boutet, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Service, explains the changes to Junior High Spanish and French teachers at the Dec. 4 Board of Education meeting. (Photo Credit: District 203)

District 203 Board of Education to vote on changes to English Learner and middle school elective programs

C.J. Getting and Nolan Shen • December 14, 2023
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Opinion: After safety issues resolved, educational concerns persist with construction

C.J. Getting, News Editor • December 7, 2023
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Junior Brooke Bilik runs the ball at a “Powderpuff” flag football tournament organized by two Central seniors on Nov. 12.

Seniors organize Central ‘Powderpuff’ flag football tournament

C.J. Getting, News Editor • November 15, 2023
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Michael Wilson, 2023

Social studies teacher Michael Wilson, Class of 2001

C.J. Getting and Kathryn Prerost • October 27, 2023
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Senior Christian Wenig uses ChatGPT after school in Room 216A on Monday, Oct. 23.

District 203 implements ChatGPT as a ‘learning tool’

C.J. Getting, News Editor • October 24, 2023
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AP Human Geography teacher Randy Smith teaches his sixth period class on Oct. 16. The number of AP Human sections went from 2 to 6 from the 2022-23 to 2023-24 school years.

Sections of freshman level AP courses triple after new law passed

C.J. Getting and Nolan Shen • October 20, 2023
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From student to teacher: why do Central alumni come back?

C.J. Getting, News Editor • October 19, 2023
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Opinion: Stop treating students like guinea pigs

Opinion: Stop treating students like guinea pigs

C.J. Getting, News Editor • October 10, 2023
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Room 218 was closed due to exterior construction in Sept. It will reopen for classes on Oct. 2.

[Photo] Classes to move back to originally-scheduled rooms

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • September 29, 2023
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Central implements new grading policies

Central implements new grading policies

C.J. Getting, News Editor • September 16, 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.

Plans for a NCHS coffee shop delayed until October

C.J. Getting, News Editor • September 8, 2023
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Room 203 on the morning of Sept. 6. Photo Source: @barryredhawk on Twitter/X

E-learning day called due to power outage

C.J. Getting, News Editor • September 6, 2023
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Opinion: Amara Harris trial never should have happened

C.J. Getting, News Editor • September 5, 2023
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Naperville City Council candidate Ashley South (center) discusses sustainability at a panel discussion hosted by Naperville Central students.

Central students lead solar panel and sustainability discussion

C.J. Getting, Staff Writer • April 4, 2023
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Amanda Fox holds hall of fame plaque after receiving it on Feb. 3.

Amanda Fox inducted to athletic hall of fame

C.J. Getting, Staff Writer • February 13, 2023
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Abbey Kerth holds hall of fame plaque after receiving it on Feb. 3.

Abbey Kerth inducted to athletic hall of fame

C.J. Getting, Staff Writer • February 13, 2023
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Changes come to SOAR sign up

C.J. Getting, Staff Writer • December 5, 2022
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Seniors Kelsey Schneck (left) and Mark Park (right) lead Central’s drumline through the hallways during the first “State Walk” on Oct. 19.

Central launches new tradition; ‘State Walk’ honors state competitors

C.J. Getting, Staff Writer • November 4, 2022
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Dalen Terry celebrates after a basket during the Bulls’ preseason loss against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Opinion: Chicago Bulls in a unique situation

C.J. Getting, Staff Writer • November 2, 2022
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Candace Parker (#3) shoots a three-pointer during the third quarter of the Commissioner's Cup Championship.

Naperville Central graduate gives basketball tickets to students

C.J. Getting, Staff Writer • August 22, 2022
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Senior Quinn Hurley and juniors Jillian Poole and Reese Kennedy perform “Totally Tubular” in Central’s auditorium as part of the annual One Acts show.

Theatre Central’s One Acts returns in-person after two years of COVID

C.J. Getting, Staff Writer • May 25, 2022
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Morning support sees significant changes as students opt for SOAR alternatives

C.J. Getting, Correspondent • May 3, 2022
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