[Goose]

If she came back, it would be as an academically qualified student who would be paying her tuition.

That is IMO the "way it should be". As I understand it, quite a few people, possibly a majority, believe athletes who transfer to another school should not be able to return to Stanford at all. It is unspecified if they believe that policy should apply to non-athletes. Some would allow return but would require the individual to go through the transfer process as if they had never been admitted.

It doesn’t really relate to any previous policies for athletes.

I agree it certainly shouldn't. The only potential issue would be for people who believe the original admission was aided/based on athletic "preference" in admissions and therefore the original admission wasn't "as good" as for non-athletes.

[Goose]

If she came back, it would be as an academically qualified student who would be paying her tuition.

That is IMO the "way it should be". As I understand it, quite a few people, possibly a majority, believe athletes who transfer to another school should not be able to return to Stanford at all. It is unspecified if they believe that policy should apply to non-athletes. Some would allow return but would require the individual to go through the transfer process as if they had never been admitted.

It doesn’t really relate to any previous policies for athletes.

I agree it certainly shouldn't. The only potential issue would be for people who believe the original admission was aided/based on athletic "preference" in admissions and therefore the original admission wasn't "as good" as for non-athletes.