[Alumiyum]

My school has a pretty laid back recruitment and also has rush during the first two weeks or so of school.

Don't change your school schedule for recruitment. If it's a class that's offered every semester, that's one thing. But I know what it's like to have to take a class that only appears on a rotating basis. School should always come first. On my campus MOST, not all, but MOST professors are understanding if a student talks to them prior to the event. I've had to do this for Recruitment Team reasons more than once and I always offered to do whatever class work beforehand. In every class but one I still had the absence counted, but we usually get three a semester, and I just decide that it's worth it. You can usually tell which professors are going to be sympathetic towards Greek life and which ones won't. I have had a professor refuse to let me miss a critique before, even though I talked to them on the first day of class. (Which, by the way, I recommend. Talk to them the first chance you get.)

If that happens, you need to call the person in charge of Greek life, or if you've already met them, you're Recruitment Team leaders. Explain the situation and they will explain to the chapters why you will not be at the event. In my chapter at least, I can't think of a time when a girl was dropped because she missed one night due to a class. Usually that was seen as a good sign-if she takes school seriously, she's going to make good grades and be responsible in general. But you just can't tell, and have to take the risk. School is ALWAYS more important, but there are many routes to try to miss a class for recruitment, so I think you'll be ok. To recap:
1. Ask yourself if you need the class right now. If it's a pre-requisite to a major class or is only offered on a rotating basis, take it. No questions. If it's offered every semester and there's no need to take it right now, consider waiting. ASK YOUR ADVISOR and explain the situation to them. I'm sure they've had that question before and can give you advice.
2. If I were you, I'd go ahead and sign up for it. I know every school is different, but for me I can wait until a couple of weeks before the fall term starts to drop a class with no financial penalty. Find out if you can do this and what the last date is to do so and then sign up and make sure you mark that date on your calendar. If the recruitment schedule hasn't been released yet (and make sure you go to the student life office and ask if it is) it surely will be by then. Ask your advisor if this is a good idea and if they say it will work for you, do it.
3. If you have to take the class and it IS in conflict with a recruitment night, talk to the teacher on the first day of class. Explain the situation and ask if you could make up the work before hand or maybe send a tape recorder with a classmate to record the lecture. Read the syllabus to see what the policy is on absences. In classes where I had at least three without penalty I always talked to the teacher first (make sure you do this regardless so you stay in good graces with them), but missed regardless. If I would be penalized I offered solutions to the professor. Sometimes they'd find a way to work with me, but sometimes not.
4. If you've done all of this but cannot have an unexcused absense in the class (and it's doubtful this would be excused...but this is why it's important to talk to the teacher. It might be.), go straight to the person/people in charge of recruitment. Explain the situation. They'll have a system already for informing chapters of PNM's who have a class conflict-you won't be the only one. Then go to the class dressed and ready and call your Recruitment Team leader when you leave and catch up. It depends on the school and the chapter as to whether or not it will hurt you...in mine I can't think of a time when it did. But school should come first.

In the event you do all this and do get dropped, it might have nothing to do with missing a night, but then again it might. You won't know. So since you'll have gone to at least some of the parties and met all the chapters you'll have a better idea of who you'd like to COB. Consider this approach if everything else falls through.

Good luck!