Students protest Gore’s oil ties

A group of college students staged a protest in Des Moines last night aimed at catching the eye of democrat Al Gore, who’s brought his presidential campaign to Iowa. Grinnell College student Paul Chaikin says their beef is with the Gore family’s interest in Occidental Petroleum because the company’s forcing the U’Wa Tribe off their land in oil-rich Columbia.Chaikin says Gore is “chummy” with Occidental’s executives and Chaikin wants Gore to take a stand against Occidental’s actions.Chaikin and other students held a candlelight vigil last night at the site where Gore will rally with his supporters over the noon hour.