The death of a 20-year-old Dartmouth student is being investigated as a possible incident of hazing, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
Police Chief Charles Daniel says his department has received concerns that there could be alcohol abuse or harassment attacks.
Won Jang was last seen at a party near the Dartmouth Boathouse on the Connecticut River before police found him in the river using underwater cameras.
According to the Daily Mail, Jang could not swim. Divers found him in 20 feet of water and 65 feet from shore. He was a member of Beta Alpha Omega fraternity and had attended a party hosted by both Beta and Alpha Phi fraternity, Dartmouth reported.
An earlier article published by Dartmouth in January stated that both Beta Alpha and Alpha Phi had been suspended for violating community standards, as had fraternities Alpha Chi Alpha and Sigma Nu. A source told Dartmouth that Beta Alpha’s suspension had something to do with an accident. The other suspensions were reportedly alcohol-related.
“Won was always a great guy. I don’t think there was ever a moment when I didn’t see him with a smile on his face,” Kledian Marinaj told WMUR. “I had just spoken to him to set up a date to go out to dinner sometime. Of course, I was very excited when I got the news, so I met up with friends around here and we went for a walk and talked about all the great things about Won, about how he cracks jokes and makes people laugh.
Won, a 2026 graduate, studied biochemical engineering and was described in his profile as “The One and Only Won.”
“Won has wholeheartedly embraced the opportunities at Dartmouth to pursue his academic and personal passions,” the college’s dean, Scott Brown, wrote in an email to students.
“He was enthusiastically involved in the Dartmouth community,”
Won worked as a mentor for international students, participated in an entrepreneurship program, and was involved in his fraternity’s activities.
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