Skip to content
Magazine
Sunday, August 3, 2025
SUBSCRIBE
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
SUBSCRIBE

Notorious solvay circle not ready for test:” A lot of partying”

Shiva Singh by Shiva Singh
9 May 2024
in Brussels News

Brussels, (Brussels Morning)- Comic acts, a lot of booze, and a kind of exclusive membership: the controversial Solvay Circle is in the eye of the storm now that the public prosecutor is investigating whether there is “extensive cross-border transfer” among students who are part of the VUB circle.

It is probably no coincidence that Solvay Kring opted for the above credo when it was founded in 1969. The student group, which mainly recruits from the commercial engineering course, aims for exclusivity, coupled with a better and more expensive lifestyle.

The circle itself emphasises this in its external communication. “That we have a lot of money is not gossip, it’s the truth”, can be read, for example, in an article on the student site Guido from 2011. Or also: “Despite the fact that we only represent one direction, we still organise the largest and most successful activities.”

Nat T-shirt

However, these activities are increasingly striking for their extremes. Such as the Erotica TD, which already caused a stir six years ago after testimonials from female students in the Brussels student magazine De Moeial. That infamous evening, a wet T-shirt contest was organised, in which students had to throw ice-cold water over their clothes, and then take off their bras. At the end of the competition, one student was crowned the winner.

At that TD – meanwhile renamed ‘Moulin Orange’ – not only professional strippers, but also shafts of the Solvay Circle had to perform a strip act. That’s what Emma* says, who obtained her diploma at the VUB last year. She was once present at the TD Séparé, where male students had to showcase their talents.

Meat inspection

Several such stories are circulating in student circles. The constant every time? Lots of naked and sexually tinted assignments where men and women have to touch and feel each other in sometimes strange positions.

Emma points to another custom: “During the weeks before the actual baptism ritual, there is a tent on the VUB campus that passers-by could not see inside”.

“Baptism rituals are then performed in which boys have to go completely naked and girls are only allowed to keep their panties on. Female students are then told comments about their breasts afterwards. It is an outright meat inspection.”

Another student who spoke to BRUZZ talks about “disparaging situations”.

Strong potion

In addition to explicitly sexual activities, alcohol also plays a prominent role, according to several sources. “Shafts are put on the train to say the Ardennes, each with a bottle of spirits in hand. You may not get off the train until you have soldiered on that bottle. In another game – ‘beer king’ – several students have already been taken to their room in wheelbarrows.”

Footage from the Erotica TD shows a hired stripper.

‘Arrogant’

Due to the complaints that led to a criminal complaint before the court on Tuesday and the suspension of the possible perpetrators of “extremely transgressive behaviour”, the activities of the Solvay Circle that take place on the VUB campus are temporarily put on hold .

“Access to the campus is prohibited for several members of the presidium, but the activities of the circle on the campus will also be stopped,” said VUB spokeswoman Nathalie Vlaemynck. She also confirms that the judicial investigation focuses on facts that took place last year.

According to Max*, who has been on the presidency of the Solvay Circle, a few bad apples ruin the reputation of the sorority.

“There are individuals who have done things that were unacceptable and that is then widely spread. Unjustified. The feeling that I and my friends have left with the Solvay Circle is that it is a circle like any other. The focus is on having fun.”

Max sounds sober about the sensational TDs and activities of the student club. “There was indeed a wet T-shirt contest , but it was completely voluntary and also accompanied by a wet boxer contest for male students,” he says. “I said no to that at the time, and that was no problem at all.”

According to Max, the circle’s dubious reputation also has to do with the ambitious profile of its members. “They are people who are very enterprising and have the urge to be the biggest and the best. Our TDs are therefore the most visited of the VUB. I think that many people saw us as arrogant because of this, but in practice it is not that bad.”

Among the best-known former members are Alexander De Croo and Eva De Bleeker; the latter was even vice-chairman once.

‘ Awareness ‘

VUB Vice Rector Nadine Engels will lead an investigation into the transgressive behaviour, in which she will talk to the alleged perpetrators, the victims and reporters, the Brussels university said. The prosecutor’s office has also started an investigation, but will not comment further.

The Solvay Circle did respond via social media. “We are stunned and would like to emphasise that we fully condemn and under no circumstances tolerate unwanted transgressive behaviour. We also provide all our explicit support to the victims and the investigation.”

“Unwanted, transgressive behaviour is fundamentally not in line with the values ​​and standards we stand for, on the contrary. We also want to emphasise as much as possible that this concerns complaints against individuals and by no means a complaint against our association.”

Related News:

  • Professor who laid the foundation for COVID vaccines receives Solvay science prize
  • Major trade mission to US kicked off at Brussels chemical giant Solvay
  • Putin critic Alexei Navalny dies in Arctic Circle jail, says Russia
  • UK inquiry urged into state collusion of notorious Belfast murder
Next Post

Schaerbeek residents manifest for Good Move: 'Traffic makes neighborhood unlivable'

Latest post

EU-elections-UK

EU elections: UK looks on from the “outside”

1 year ago
Galeries-Royales-Saint-Hubert

What Makes Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert an “Institution”?

1 year ago

Most Read

    Follow Brussels Morning
    Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

    Browse Important News

    Belgium News
    Brussels News
    Culture and Society News
    Economy News
    EU Institutions News
    European Commission News
    European Council News
    European Parliament News
    Europe News
    Health And Fitness News
    Southeast Europe News
    Sustainable Perspective
    World News
    Diplomacy News
    US Elections News

    About Us

    Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

    More Info

    • About Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookies Policy

    Join Our Newsletter

    Brussels Morning Newspaper – All Rights Reserved © 2024

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Belgium News
      • Belgium Police News
      • Brussels News
    • Brussels Bubble
      • European Parliament News
      • European Commission News
      • European Council News
    • Wider Europe
      • Member States
    • World News
    • Business & Society
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Culture & Society
    • Policy Talks
      • Place de la Bourse
      • The Macro-Economist
      • Sustainable Perspective
      • Ambassador’s Corner
      • The American Angle
      • Southeast Europe
    • Print Magazine

    Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT