On Thursday 20 November, Brussels and its universities will once again light up in red, white and blue — the colours of freedom, reason and solidarity — for St V, the annual commemoration of our founder Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen. Once more, it will be a day of celebration and resistance. This year’s theme: “Silence complice, fascisme en marche – Don’t look away, have your say!”
Jonas Brüll, external vice-president of the Brussels Student Society (BSG), explains why this theme is more urgent than ever. “We want to raise the alarm about the growing fascism in the Western world. Those who stay silent or look away only help it spread. The strength of our democracy still lies with the people — as long as we keep using our voices.”
Jonas Brüll, external vice-president of the Brussels Student Society (BSG)
A fight against silence
The core message this year is as sharp as it is unsettling: silence is complicity. Jonas: “The worst thing you can do is bury your head in the sand. Looking away gives authoritarian powers space to slowly dismantle our freedoms. That applies to politics, but also to how we deal with wars and international trade. As long as the West maintains ties with regimes that undermine our values, we are actively reinforcing anti-democratic systems.”
According to the BSG, this is not some distant threat from the history books, but a process already underway. “Fascism may sound like something from the past, but the warning signs are here — both within and beyond Europe. Extreme ideologies are finding their way into our institutions. We must dare to call that out.”
Tradition as resistance
Students, Jonas believes, play a key role in breaking this quiet normalisation. “We’ve grown up with access to all information. We can expose lies through science, journalism and critical thinking. But that only works if we keep talking to each other — even beyond our own bubbles. Universities are perfect for that: spaces for debate, encounter and resistance.”
St V remains true to its roots: a celebration of freedom, defiance and unity. “Fascist forces want to divide us,” Jonas says. “But St V brings everyone together — Flemish and Walloon, ULB and VUB, young and old. We honour the students who spoke up during times of war and oppression, and we continue that resistance today. Together, we show that we’re still here.”
The medal: The key to resistance
As every year, this edition comes with a symbolic medal. This time, it shows a mouth silenced — or self-silenced. “Everyone carries a listening device in their pocket these days,” Jonas remarks. “It’s harder than ever to swim against the tide. But on 20 November, we’ll raise ten thousand voices to show that we’re not alone. That we’ll keep speaking out — long after St V.”
A call to action
The BSG’s message is clear: silence means consent. Jonas hopes students will keep reflecting on their role in society long after St V. “Together we can stand strong against the politics of extremism. Use your voice, your vote, your choices, your money — we have more power than we think. History doesn’t repeat itself on its own; we let it happen when we do nothing.”
His final message is both practical and urgent: “Take care on the Sablon — the Zavelstraat next to the square will remain open to traffic this year. And above all: don’t be silenced by bullies in power. Stay critical, stay loud. We are not alone.”
The Origins and Tradition of Saint V
Every year on 20 November, ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles) and VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) honour their founder, Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, during Saint V. Organised by the Brussels Student Society and the Association des Cercles Etudiants, this festive event draws hundreds of students from both VUB and ULB. An eclectic mix of students, alumni, researchers, and professors from both liberal universities gathers in the Brussels Sablon and then proceeds to the Stock Exchange. For the public, the vibrant parade is the most striking part of Saint V, each year drawing attention to a political or social theme.
However, the festivities start in the morning with a solemn segment, where the VUB and ULB leadership and student organisations pay homage not only to Théodore Verhaegen but also to other important humanist figures. They do this by laying flowers and giving speeches in memory of Brussels university resistance fighters and students who gave their lives during the world wars.
The origins of this celebration go back to 1888, when students called for a more open and less dogmatic attitude from university authorities. They appealed to the anti-clerical and Enlightenment ideals of Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, the university’s founder. To reinforce their message, they laid flowers at Verhaegen’s grave. However, this gesture was mocked in the press, with the newspaper Le Patriote ridiculing the students by canonising Verhaegen. The students embraced this nickname, soon calling their hero “Saint Verhaegen.”
In 2019, Saint V was recognised as part of Brussels’ intangible cultural heritage, acknowledging the historical significance and tradition of this event. It remains a vivid reminder of the shared values of academic freedom and humanism celebrated annually by both universities.
Medals from the CAVA archive can be found here.