We can all relax now about AIDS, or at least that's what the article "AIDS has little effect," in the Feb. 5 Collegian, would have us believe. I could not believe how misleading this Associated Press article was. Let's reconsider this report by the National Research Council.

First of all, the conclusion that AIDS will disappear is asinine at best. All the statistics are pointing to the contrary. AIDS is spreading and between all groups. Within the last few years, the number of cases of HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) infection that have been contracted through sex between people of different sexes has risen dramatically, especiallly for women. Also keep in mind that when you hear someone has died of AIDS, he or she was infected about 10 years ago, when you and I were running around the elementary school playground! Will it really take having our friends die off to encourage us to change our behavior? Then it will be too late.

The second outrageous assertion of the report is that since AIDS has thus far affected ''powerless'' members of our society, the virus has had little effect on American society as a whole. Who makes up this American society? Do only rich, white, married, old people who have never used steroids, an I.V. drug or needed a blood transfusion make up our society? No, but they run it, and the media and the National Research Council.

The bottom line is we all need to do our part. Even if we think we don't know anyone who is HIV-positive, we must protect ourselves and provide health care for all those who are infected, money for research, education and testing. Write your congressional representatives, educate yourself, have the AIDS project (234-7087) answer a question you might have, and most importantly if you are going to play, play safely.