Dartmouth sorority, two members of fraternity face charges after student drowns
HANOVER, NH — A Dartmouth College fraternity and two fraternity members are charged in the death of a student who drowned after attending an off-campus party this summer.
Won Jang, 20, of Middletown, Delaware, was reported missing in July after the party. State and local emergency responders searched the Connecticut River and found his body.
On Friday, police in Hanover, New Hampshire, where Dartmouth is located, announced that Alpha Phi had been charged with facilitating an alcohol house for minors. Two members of Beta Alpha Omega were charged with furnishing alcohol to a person under 21 years of age.
The party was organized by student association Alpha Phi and alcohol was provided by Beta Alpha Omega. Most of the attendees at the party were under 21 years old. At the end of the party, police said several attendees decided to go swimming in the river. While they were at the river, a heavy rainstorm hit and most of the people left. Jang, whose family told authorities he could not swim, stayed behind.
At the time of the incident, Dartmouth suspended its sorority and fraternity and those suspensions remain in effect. Jang was a member of Beta Alpha Omega.
“Dartmouth has long valued the contributions that Greek organizations make to the student experience when operating within their stated values and standards,” the college said in a statement. “These organizations, as well as all Dartmouth students and community members, have a responsibility to ensure that Dartmouth remains a safe, respectful, equitable and inclusive community for students, faculty and staff.”
No one at Alpha Phi was available for comment.