SALEM – Salem State College's Central Campus was the center of attention last week as students, alumni and local dignitaries descended upon the new home for the School of Business and the Music Department to show their Viking spirit.

As part of the college's annual homecoming week, a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 16 officially opened the doors to the re-designed light bulb factory that now majestically marks the completion of Phase One of the ambitious Central Campus project. Many alumni, prospective students and neighbors of the college took guided tours during an open house on Friday, Oct. 17. On Saturday morning, Oct. 18, Central Campus was busy again; this time as several hundred spirited marchers in the homecoming parade gathered for their annual trek through the streets of Salem.

Victor Santana, a member of the Student Government Association who is active in many organizations on campus, and Andrea French, a theater major who volunteers as a student leader at orientation, were the co-winners of the 2003 Viking Spirit Award. The Hispanic-American Society took top honors in the parade float contest, and the Asian Student Association won first place in the banner contest.

A barbecue at the O'Keefe Complex followed the parade, while several attended a volleyball match between Salem State and Mass Maritime Academy and a men's soccer game against Worcester State College.