Won Jang Dartmouth college frat student’s drowning death was not the result of hazing, Hanover, New Hampshire police say as they issue misdemeanor charges against two students along with Alpha Phi sorority.
The death of a Dartmouth college student attending an off campus Greek sorority fraternity party this summer has led to two college students and a fraternity being charged in connection to a 20 year old’s drowning in July.
Members of the Beta Alpha Omega fraternity Matthew Catrambone and Samuel Terry were charged with a misdemeanor for providing alcohol to a person under 21, while Alpha Phi sorority (which the victim, Won Jang, 20, had attended a party at) was charged as a corporation with one count of facilitating an underage alcohol house, police in Hanover, New Hampshire, according to a news release from the Hanover Police Department on Friday.
Won Jang, a member of Beta Alpha Omega, had attended a party organized by the sorority and members of his fraternity gave him alcohol. Most of the frat party’s attendees were under the age of 21, police said.
Toward the end of the party, several attendees made ‘a spontaneous decision’ to swim in the Connecticut River, police said. However, a heavy rainstorm descended and Jang couldn’t be found as revelers began to disperse and take cover from the storm, leaving the inebriated 20 year old behind.
Jang, who was originally from Middletown, Delaware, did not know how to swim, his family told authorities.
The 20-year-old biomedical engineering major was reported missing the next day, and authorities later found his body in the river about 65 feet from shore.
He had a blood alcohol level of 0.167%, police said — more than twice the legal limit to drive.
Jang had been taking part in Sophomore Summer, a time for rising juniors to stay on campus and participate in an immersive and more relaxed summer course, according to the Ivy League school‘s website.
Of note, in a statement, Police Chief of Hanover Police Dept, Charles Dennis, said, ‘a thorough investigation of the evidence and facts did not support any type of hazing taking place.’
Chief Dennis’ statement comes despite police receiving several anonymous tips claiming that Jang’s death was a result of hazing.
Hazing refers to any activity expected of someone in joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them regardless of a person’s willingness to participate. The activity is often seen as a rite of passage in the Greek based fraternities and younger members or sorority aspirants are often expected to fulfil or comply with tasks or activities which are dubious at best and lethal in some cases.
At the time of the tragedy, Dartmouth suspended the sorority and fraternity and those suspensions remain in effect amid an ongoing internal investigation.
The student’s death led to a ‘contrite’ statement from Dartmouth college mourning Jang’s death while saying little if anything to address the ongoing display of behaviour in a ‘bid to be accepted’ that has led to previous sorority tragedies.
‘Dartmouth has long valued the contributions that Greek organizations bring to the student experience, when they are 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 Dartmouth remains a safe, respectful, equitable, and inclusive community for students, faculty, and staff.’
