in 1945, manfred hodson (after whom a residence hall is now named) formed the "rhodesia university association", inspired by the promise of £20,000 by robert jeffrey freeman for establishing such a university. the following year, the legislative assembly of southern rhodesia adopted a motion proposed by hodson for the establishment of a university college to serve the needs of rhodesia and neighbouring territories. the governor of southern rhodesia established the rhodesia university foundation fund in 1947. the legislative assembly accepted an offer of land in mount pleasant from the city of salisbury (now harare) for the construction of the campus in 1948. four years later a bill was enacted for the incorporation and constitution of the university. first classes began for some 68 students on a temporary site at 147 baker avenue (now nelson mandela avenue). independent of the initiatives of hodson and the legislative assembly, the central african council's commission on higher education, led by sir alexander carr-saunders (after whom another residence is now named) recommended the establishment of a university college to serve rhodesia and nyasaland, with its first preference being to integrate with the southern rhodesian initiative.