Police charge Dartmouth students following drowning linked to underage drinking

In July 2023, tragic events unfolded at Dartmouth College in the United States when Won Jang, a 20-year-old biomedical engineering student, drowned after attending an off-campus party hosted by the Alpha Phi Sorority and the Beta Alpha Omega Fraternity. Jang, who was known to be unable to swim, died after being left behind in the Connecticut River when partygoers exited the area. His tragic death prompted an investigation by the Hanover Police, which concluded in September when it was declared an accidental drowning. The toxicology report revealed Jang's blood alcohol content was significantly high at 0.167, indicating severe impairment. This case led Hanover Police to charge two members of the Beta fraternity, identified as social chairs, with providing alcohol to underage persons. The informal party that Jang attended before the annual Wedding Tails event was registered with the college but clearly held risks associated with underage drinking. Both Alpha Phi and Beta were previously suspended for unrelated incidents. The enforcement actions taken against the fraternities and the sorority have raised concerns about the fairness and appropriateness of selectively enforcing underage drinking laws against students, especially in light of the fact that the college itself sponsors numerous events where alcohol consumption by underage students occurs regularly. Despite the measures taken by the college, including suspending these organizations to discourage underage drinking, such responses do not adequately address the culture of binge drinking and its associated risks among college students. Many view the charges against the individuals as an unfair scapegoating of a wider systemic issue within college culture rather than an effective measure to promote safety and responsibility.