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When I was about to graduate from Colgate University, in 1980, I knew I wanted to be a journalist. But I also knew that there are no ''normal'' career paths in the news business. There are no formal training programs -- and newspapers do not send recruiters to college campuses. So I sent letters to Colgate alumni who worked in journalism. I wasn't particularly interested in broadcast news, but one of my letters went to Andy Rooney. In his reply, he suggested that I start my career at a newspaper or magazine -- which is what I did. But the really memorable thing about his letter was the paper it was written on. It looked and felt like toilet paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Re ''Pantsuits and the Presidency'' (June 22): As a Times columnist, I never envisioned myself writing a letter to a fellow resident of the paper's opinion section. But I feel compelled to respond to your assault on Maureen Dowd. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reports on the resignation of Ed Lowe as a columnist in Newsday. Acceptance of a buyout offered by Newsday; Contract signed with The Long Island Press, a free weekly paper; Statement of John Mancini, the editor of Newsday.