Dartmouth sorority and fraternity members charged after student, 20, dies at party

Three people are facing charges in relation to the death of Won Jang, a 20-year-old student who was found to have drowned in a river following a house party on July 6

Members of a Dartmouth sorority and fraternity are facing charges after the death of a student, 20, at a party.

Two members of a fraternity and one member of a sorority have been charged months after the death of Won Jang. The student had been served alcohol at the party as a minor, and was later drowned in a river. The Alpha Phi sorority was charged as a corporation by police in Hanover, New Hampshire.

They were presented with one count of facilitating an underage alcohol house while two members of the Beta Alpha Omega fraternity were charged with providing alcohol to a person under 21. The charges stem from an off-campus party which tool place on July 6, which Won attended.

After the party hosted by Alpha Phi, where alcohol was allegedly provided by Beta Alpha Omega, some of the attendees went for a swim in the Connecticut River. Police say most of the partygoers were under the age of 21.

Won's family say the 20-year-old could not swim but went with the group. It is believed he was accidentally left behind when it began to rain and others left, the New York Post reported. Won was reported missing the next day and authorities later found his body in the river, about 65ft from shore.

Police say the students had made a "spontaneous decision to swim in the river" on July 6 though the heavy rainstorm saw many party goers who had made their way to the river leave soon after. Won, who could not swim, was left behind. Won's cause of death was confirmed as drowning by the New Hampshire Chief Medical Examiner's Office.

It was reported he had a blood alcohol level of 0.167%. The legal limit in New Hampshire is 0.08% while the legal limit for people under 21 is 0.02%. A statement from Dartmouth reads: "Dartmouth has long valued the contributions that Greek organizations bring to the student experience, when they are operating within their stated values and standards.

"These organizations, as well as all Dartmouth students and community members, have a responsibility to ensure Dartmouth remains a safe, respectful, equitable and inclusive community for students, faculty and staff.

"Following the tragic loss of Won Jang during the summer, Dartmouth immediately suspended both Alpha Phi and Beta Alpha Omega, and an internal investigation was initiated. These suspensions remain in effect pending the results of Dartmouth’s internal investigation and conduct process, which is still ongoing."

Won is believed to have been studying biomedical engineering and economics at Dartmouth where he also worked as a research assistant on a project for the engineering school, People reported. He is believed to have also studied COVID vaccine antibodies during his time there according to his LinkedIn page.