In the area of college athletics, the chief concern of the student affairs professional is the relationships which ought to exist between institutions as represented by the division of student affairs and the student athlete. The athlete faces the same set of academic and social demands that the non-athlete faces in addition to the unique demands of athletics. The development of a student affairs perspective might be preceded by axioms reflecting the academic mission of a university and the mission of student affairs, the out-of-class environment and personal circumstances of students, and recognition that athletes are also students. Athletes as students face many difficulties, including the demands of intercollegiate athletics, the stress of athletics, and the risk of being developmentally short-changed. The relationship between student affairs and athletes and the athletic program should follow these principles: (1) student affairs has the same general responsibility to athletes as it does to other students; (2) institutions should provide special services to the student athletes including an academic athletic advisor to help them surmount the pressures created by athletic demands; (3) athletes should be a part of the mainstream of student life; (4) athletes should have the same rules as other students; (5) equity should be extended to women's athletics; and (6) the physical fitness of all students must equate with that of the varsity athletes. The task is not to make parallel services for athletes, but to make sure the athlete is aware of these services and encouraged to use them. (ABL)