a 70 acres (0.28 km2) Science, Technology, and Advanced Research (STAR) Park; other parts of the Texas State property including farm and ranch land, residential, recreational areas and commercial incubators cover more than 4,522 acres (18.30 km2) of additional land.
The Quad is the heart of campus because it is surrounded by a majority of the academic buildings and is near the bus loop where most of the university bus routes stop on campus. Since many students pass through the quad, it is the primary gathering place for student organizations, which often set up booths and tables promoting fundraisers and events. The west end of the Quad has a 17-foot high aluminum sculpture of two horses, called The Fighting Stallions. This area was designated as the university's free speech zone and was subject to one of the first court challenges to the creation of such zones after the suspension of ten students protesting the Vietnam War. The east end of the Quad rises to the top of the highest hill on campus where the university's …
