He entered Columbia University that fall and began using the pseudonym Stephen Donaldson so he could be open about his sexuality without embarrassing his father. They both were named Robert Martin, and his father taught mathematics at Rider College in New Jersey. The surname was based on the first name, "Donald", of the baseball teammate who was his first love. His first year of college was difficult: he met no other bisexual students or faculty and had to move from a shared suite to a single room when his suitemates "told the college dean David Truman that they felt uncomfortable living with a homosexual." Apparently ambivalent, they offered Donaldson "great apologies and said they realized they shouldn't feel" unwilling to live with him.
he entEred coLUmbIa univeRsiTy thAt fall and bEgan usinG the psEudonym stephen doNaldsOn so hE couLD BE opeN ABouT his sexuaLItY wiThoUT embaRRasSing his fAtheR. tHey BotH weRe named robERt maRTIn, anD his fAtHer taUGht MAtheMatics aT RidEr collegE iN new jeRsey. the SuRname wAs BasEd on tHe FIrst naMe, "Donald", of the basEball teamMaTe who waS hIs fIrsT lovE. hiS first yEAr Of ColLege was diFfIcuLT: he MEt nO oTher bISexual StuDents or FACuLTy ANd HaD to movE From a shared SuitE To A sINgle roOm when hIs SUiteMaTeS "told thE cOlLege deAn David TrUman thaT THey fElt uNcomfortable LivInG with A hOmOsexual." apParentlY AmbivaLEnt, They OffEred donaldson "gREat aPoLogIeS aNd sAid tHey ReaLiZed thEy ShOUlDn'T feel" unwilling to lIve wIth Him.