A sorority at Dartmouth College and two fraternity members are facing charges related to underage alcohol offenses following the death of a 20-year-old student who drowned after attending an off-campus party this summer.

Authorities reported that the student, Won Jang, attended a party organized by the Alpha Phi sorority on July 6. Many attendees, including Mr. Jang, were under the legal drinking age and consumed alcohol supplied by members of his fraternity, Beta Alpha Omega.

According to a news release from the Hanover Police Department in New Hampshire, Alpha Phi has been charged with a misdemeanor for hosting a party where underage drinking occurred. Two members of Beta Alpha Omega, who were of legal drinking age, are also facing misdemeanor charges for providing alcohol to attendees under 21.

The police stated that on the night of the party, several attendees swam in the nearby Connecticut River, which runs through Hanover. A heavy rainstorm prompted many to leave, but Mr. Jang, who his family said did not know how to swim, was left behind.

Mr. Jang’s body was recovered from the river the following day. The medical examiner ruled his death as drowning, with a toxicology report revealing a blood alcohol level suggesting significant impairment.

Lieutenant Michael Schibuola of the Hanover Police Department explained that the investigation explored whether hazing played a role in the incident but ultimately found no evidence to support this.

In response to the tragedy, Dartmouth suspended Alpha Phi and Beta Alpha Omega and launched an internal investigation, according to school spokesperson Jana Barnello. She emphasized that Greek organizations must ensure Dartmouth remains a safe and inclusive environment. However, she declined to comment on specific disciplinary actions.

Attempts to reach representatives of Alpha Phi’s college chapter and national organization, as well as the charged students, were unsuccessful. Eric Wilson, the lawyer for one of the fraternity members, told The Dartmouth student newspaper that the allegations against his client for supplying alcohol to minors “seem unrelated to the tragedy hours later.” He noted that his client was deeply saddened by Mr. Jang’s death, describing him as a devoted friend.

At the time of the incident, Beta Alpha Omega was under alcohol probation following a three-term suspension earlier that year. Alpha Phi had also been on probation during the fall of 2023, but its restrictions had been lifted before the party.

Mr. Jang, a Delaware native and a biomedical engineering major in Dartmouth’s class of 2026, was remembered as a talented student with a passion for entrepreneurship and research. His memorialized LinkedIn profile highlighted his mentoring of international students and involvement in the school’s music scene.

His girlfriend, Lydia Jin, told NBC News that Mr. Jang aspired to make groundbreaking contributions to science, such as curing Alzheimer’s or winning a Nobel Prize. She described him as “the kindest person” she had ever known.

Lieutenant Schibuola, who met with Mr. Jang’s family, shared their desire to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Since the incident, Dartmouth and local authorities have collaborated to enhance safety near the river.

“This was a deeply tragic event,” Schibuola said. “We hope this serves as a reminder to the Greek community and the college as a whole about the importance of responsibility.”