Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a nationally represented fraternity that’s been the source of a lot of scrutiny in the greek community, has eliminated its pledging process as of last Sunday.

The pledge program will be replaced with a 96-hour add/drop process in which a potential new member can choose to register as a full member or abandon his membership, according to an announcement on the national organization’s website.

Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life Director Matt Levine said the University’s chapter has been receptive to the change so far.

“I think our organization’s really embracing the change,” he said. “The members seem to be responding well and they want to serve as leaders on this initiative.”

The decision stems from a larger issue that the organization has recently faced on a national level, said Interfraternity Council President Cameron Schilling.

“I know that nationally, they sometimes have … behavioral issues with pledging,” he said.

Aside from one alcohol-related sanction in September of 2012, the University’s chapter has recently kept out of the trend of behavioral sanctions.

Pledging is a historical process for fraternities, Schilling said, but the change in the pledging process may not mean fewer new members for SAE.

“There sometimes are those negative stereotypes with the term pledging based on how it was in the 80s and 90s,” he said. “Maybe parents or kids will be drawn to something like [this].”