Dartmouth Fraternity Members and Sorority Charged in Death of Student

Haellie Gordon, Fraternal Law Partners, hgordon@manleyburke.com

In July 2024, Won Jang, a 20-year-old Dartmouth student and member of the Beta Alpha Omega Fraternity, attended an off-campus party held by the local chapter of the Alpha Phi Sorority.[1] According to representatives of the Hanover Police Department, Beta Alpha Omega members purchased and served alcohol to attendees of the party, most of whom, including Mr. Jang, were under the age of twenty-one (21).[2] Following the party, Mr. Jang and other attendees decided to swim in the Connecticut River.[3] Heavy rainfall caused many swimmers to leave the area in groups, but Mr. Jang was not among them.[4] Mr. Jang was found deceased in the river the following day.[5] His family later confirmed that he could not swim.[6]

Two members of the Beta Alpha Omega fraternity were charged with misdemeanors for providing alcohol to underage individuals.[7] The Alpha Phi chapter was also charged with a misdemeanor for facilitating an underage alcohol house.[8] An attorney for one of the charged students wrote to Dartmouth’s student newspaper, stating that the charges for providing alcohol to underage individuals “[appeared] to be unrelated to the tragedy that occurred hours later.”[9] While the Hanover Police Department investigated whether hazing had contributed to Mr. Jang’s death, it ultimately concluded it had not.[10]

At the time of the party and Mr. Jang’s unfortunate passing, Beta Alpha Omega was on alcohol probation after a three-term suspension imposed by Dartmouth College that lasted through the spring 2024 semester.[11] Similarly, the Alpha Phi chapter had been on an alcohol probation imposed by Dartmouth College in fall 2023, which ended before the incident.[12] Unsurprisingly, in response to Mr. Jang’s death, Dartmouth College immediately suspended both chapters and launched an internal investigation.[13] As of November 2024, the suspensions remained in effect pending the investigation’s outcome.[14]

While the institutional investigation continues, the events surrounding Mr. Jang’s passing underscore the critical importance of adherence to alcohol policies, risk management protocols, and proactive education on personal and group safety. By reinforcing these measures and promoting a culture of accountability, fraternal organizations can better protect their members and surrounding communities.

[1] Chandelis Duster, 2 Dartmouth Fraternity Members and a Sorority Have Been Charged in Death of a Student, NPR(November 24, 2024, 1:24 PM), https://www.npr.org/2024/11/24/nx-s1-5204436/dartmouth-alpha-phi-beta-alpha-omega-student-drowning.

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] Kate Selig, Dartmouth Sorority and 2 Fraternity Members Are Charged After Student’s Drowning, N.Y. Times (November 24, 2024), https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/24/us/dartmouth-student-drowning-charges.html.

[6] Duster, supra note 1.

[7] Id.

[8] Id.

[9] Id.

[10] Selig, supra note 5.

[11] Id.; see also Katherine Ginger and Arizbeth Rojas, Four Greek Houses found in Violation of Community Standards, The Dartmouth (January 16, 2024), https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2024/01/four-greek-houses-found-in-violation-of-community-standards; College suspends Beta, APhi following student death, The Dartmouth (July 9, 2024), https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2024/07/college-suspends-beta-aphi-following-student-death.

[12] Selig, supra note 5.

[13] Duster, supra note 1.

[14] Id.