diff --git a/prep_assignment.py b/prep_assignment.py
index fddf03047e420084261d07fc0433e321156e7395..bb359ca942cecdef31d6efa8d9058c5d47b578f7 100644
--- a/prep_assignment.py
+++ b/prep_assignment.py
@@ -9,9 +9,7 @@ from api.composite_user import CompositeUser
 from course import Course
 
 
-# TODO: assign_partners for arbitrarily-sized teams
-def create_pairs(groupset_name: str = 'Unknown Assignment') -> \
-        Tuple[Set[CompositeUser], List[Tuple[int, CompositeUser, CompositeUser, Optional[CompositeUser]]]]:
+def get_students() -> Set[CompositeUser]:
     filename: str
     students: Set[CompositeUser]
     file_not_found = True
@@ -22,6 +20,12 @@ def create_pairs(groupset_name: str = 'Unknown Assignment') -> \
             file_not_found = False
         except FileNotFoundError:
             print(f'File "{filename}" not found.')
+    return students
+
+
+# TODO: assign_partners for arbitrarily-sized teams
+def create_pairs(students: Set[CompositeUser], groupset_name: str = 'Unknown Assignment') -> \
+        List[Tuple[int, CompositeUser, CompositeUser, Optional[CompositeUser]]]:
     students_with_blacklist: Set[CompositeUser] = sorted(list(filter(lambda s: s.has_blacklist(), students)),
                                                          key=lambda t: len(t.blacklist), reverse=True)
     preassigned_students: Set[CompositeUser] = set()
@@ -108,7 +112,7 @@ def create_pairs(groupset_name: str = 'Unknown Assignment') -> \
             potential_partner = random.choice(tuple(unassigned_students))
         if attempts > len(unassigned_students):
             print(f'NO MATCH POSSIBLE FOR {student}! YOU REALLY SHOULD WRITE CODE TO SWAP PARTNERS.')
-            exit(1)                                            # TODO: write code to swap partners
+            exit(1)  # TODO: write code to swap partners
         unassigned_students.remove(potential_partner)
         student_pairs.append((pair_number, student, potential_partner, None))
         print(f'\t{student.readable_name} partnered with {potential_partner.readable_name}')
@@ -135,7 +139,7 @@ def create_pairs(groupset_name: str = 'Unknown Assignment') -> \
         for student in pair[1:]:
             if student is not None:
                 student.assign_partners(groupset_name, usernames - {student.canvas_username})
-    return students, student_pairs
+    return student_pairs
 
 
 def save_student_roster(students: Set[CompositeUser]):
@@ -195,10 +199,9 @@ def create_groups(assignment_number, student_pairs):
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     groupset: str = input('Please provide the name of the student groupset: ')
-    student_set: Set[CompositeUser]
-    partners: List[Tuple[int, CompositeUser, CompositeUser, Optional[CompositeUser]]]
-    # noinspection PyRedeclaration
-    student_set, partners = create_pairs(groupset)
+    student_set: Set[CompositeUser] = get_students()
+    partners: List[Tuple[int, CompositeUser, CompositeUser, Optional[CompositeUser]]] = create_pairs(student_set,
+                                                                                                     groupset)
     print()
     save_student_roster(student_set)
     # zero_padding = ceil(log10(len(partners)))