From the moment Jake Freeman stepped foot on Northeastern’s campus he was determined to excel in his studies. But that does not mean he didn’t know how to have a good time.

Mr. Freeman transferred to Northeastern from Santa Barbara City College in September 2006 and rushed the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

“He was one of the happiest kids we knew, with an infectious laugh,” said Ari Seitelman, president of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. “He loved to have a good time.”

Mr. Freeman, a middler business administration major, died Tuesday after suffering severe head injuries after a fall at the bar Our House East early Sunday morning.. He was 21.

Mr. Freeman, known as “Puck” among his fraternity brothers, was raised in Tiburon, Calif. He graduated from Redwood High School in 2003.

He did a lot of extreme sports like motocross and snowboarding, said Chris Cadelago, Mr. Freeman’s friend of seven years from California. Mr. Freeman also played football, rugby and did rowing during high school.

He went to boarding school in Maine to play football after high school.

Mr. Freeman was forced into situations where he had to make friends, and he did that quickly through sports, Cadelago said. “He loved to go out with his friends, but always managed to get his work done.”

Seitelman said Mr. Freeman took his academics very seriously.

“He would even do his homework during our meetings