Tiananmen Square, China 1991: A student protester steps in front of a moving tank and captures the world's attention and sympathy in a live drama, emphasizing the struggle for a democratic Chinese government.

Stenner Canyon, 1996: Steven Marx, Cal Poly English professor and environmentalist steps in front of a moving bulldozer that aimed to shred the Stenner Canyon hillside and 300-year-old oak trees.

Democracy did not prevail in China, but Marx scored a victory last Thursday. He won his battle to get the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Cal Poly back to the negotiating table to make a final determination on the state water pipeline scheduled to be built in Stenner Canyon.

Marx, in his continuing fight to save the oaks, sacrificed his body for the trees by facing off with a bulldozer Thursday, March 21.

While taking a hike that morning, Marx unexpectedly noticed construction crews starting work at the pipeline site. He immediately intervened, confronting the work crews and eventually placing his body between a bulldozer and the planned path. Marx escaped unscathed, after exchanging a few unpleasantries with workers.

Marx told the TelegramTribune Thursday, "I never thought I would be hit, although I will admit my adrenaline was pumping."

The incident came after a formal apology was faxed from California Resource Agency Director Douglas P. Wheeler to Cal Poly President Warren Baker, after bulldozers accidentally went through Stenner Canyon Wednesday without notifying the university.

A Cal Poly legal council was preparing to obtain a court injunction to halt pipeline construction when Baker received the apology.

According to the TelegramTribune, the statement issued to Baker stressed that "no further actions will occur at the site until all parties are in full agreement to the conditions of any clearing or (construction)."

No spokesperson for DWR could comment on the status of the pipeline Wednesday, after several calls from the Daily.

Thursday's events occurred, according to the TelegramTribune, because of a miscommunication between the Estate agency and the contractor, Homer J. Olsen Inc. of Union City.

Cal Poly and DWR officials are still at an impasse on the final route of the pipeline through Stenner Canyon. The groups are also at odds over trenching techniques and various creek crossings the pipeline will make.

Various plans exist on how the pipeline is going to affect the canyon. Judging from an aerial photograph of the area, the proposed route of the pipeline would exterminate 30 to 40 oaks, and require the loss or damage of creekside habitat and watershed areas.

Under an alternative route proposed by Cal Poly, the pipeline would cut through only 2 oaks and a grassland area.

The DWR recently told Cal Poly in a memorandum that the original route of the pipeline would stand, with some modifications.

Marx said he is not satisfied with the new proposal because he is skeptical of the contractor's ability to use trenching and boring techniques to take the pipeline under the trees, instead of simply going around them.

"All sides on this issue must be experiencing fatigue and eagerness to get on with other business at hand," Marx said. "I hope the urgency of the desire to move ahead on this doesn't trip all of us up."

Marx and fellow sympathizers agree that "any canyon incursion is a major concession on our part."

Marx also stress the importance of his Worl Wide Web site, which updates and illustrates the dilemma with news articles, photographs and maps.

"The web site is a great Cal Poly educational experience. For readers to look at it and how information can be organized and dispersed is really great."

All pipeline information on efforts to save the oaks can be found at http://www.calpoly.edu/~mstiles/oak.html

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