CoolSculpting in St. Stephen, SC

(Editor’s note: Each candidate for St. Stephen Town Council was emailed this list of questions to the address on his or her filing paperwork and asked to respond by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. We are publishing the responses from candidates who responded.)

Winston Williams is a current member of St. Stephen Town Council seeking re-election. He is one of four candidates vying for three seats.

1. What do you see as the most pressing issues facing the town?

At this time, the most pressing issue facing our town is growth, and we must be prepared to manage it effectively. I bring to this role a solid understanding of our governmental system and a commitment to collaborate with everyone while representing the interests of our community.

2. What skills or experiences do you bring to this role?

No answer provided.

3. What steps would you take to improve public safety and strengthen relationships between residents and law enforcement?

No answer provided.

4. What does government transparency mean to you, and how would/have you put it into practice?

Transparency in all government agencies is essential. If we adhere to established rules, transparency should never be questioned.

5. What is your long-term vision for the town, five or 10 years in the future?

My long-term vision for the town focuses on enhancing our parks and recreation facilities. To attract young people and families to our town, we need spaces where they can relax and enjoy quality time together.

6. How can you encourage young people and families to stay and invest in this community?

No answer provided.

This initiative is part of a larger Brownfield Grant Program the County commenced in 2022 when County Council approved a $500,000 EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant to fund a large-scale revitalization initiative in the St. Stephen area. Part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfield Community Wide Assessment Grant Program, the EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant is helping fund environmental assessments on certain properties throughout St. Stephen—including the former St. Stephen High School property.

The initial assessment grant from 2022 also identified St. Stephen’s former Lumber Mill, which operated as a steam-powered lumber mill from the 1930s to mid-1960s and closed around 1970. Another goal of this large-scale initiative will be to develop a complete revitalization plan unique to St. Stephen.

Over the last three years, community engagement has been a critical part of the EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant, including the establishment of the Brownfield Steering Committee, an 11-member team of local residents. This group advises the County in the assessment of properties and establishing goals and outcomes of the grant process.

A community meeting on the new EPA Assessment Grant is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at St. Stephen Elementary School, located at 1053 Russellville Road, St. Stephen. The meeting will be a time for the public to hear more information about the close out of the previous grant and more on the process for the new grant.

Should you need assistance accessing the grant or if you are unable to attend the public meeting or wish to submit public comments, please contact Corey McClary, Workforce Development Manager for Berkeley County Economic Development, at vog.csytnuocyelekreb@yralccm.yeroc or 843-719-4096.

“Over the last few years, we have worked diligently on gathering public input and working with our Brownfield team to create a path forward for St. Stephen that improves quality of life and increases opportunities for all residents and businesses who live and work there. We are excited to continue the successful revitalization process through this new EPA grant.” -Corey McClary, Workforce Development Manager, Berkeley County Economic Development

For more information on the Brownfield Grant Program, visit berkeleymeansbusiness.com/brownfield.

St Stephen’s College 2025-26 fees spark controversy as first-year students are asked to pay DU and college fees separately. The college lists DU fees over three times higher than the official Rs 3,500 share, raising compliance concerns. With total semester fees nearing Rs 30,000, students and DU officials question transparency under the dual-payment system.

St Stephen's College, one of Delhi University's premier affiliated institutions, has found itself in the midst of a fee controversy. For the academic year 2025-26, the college has asked its first-year students to pay the university and college fees separately, a so-called dual-payment system that appears to violate DU’s established single-portal payment rules. Even more startling, the ‘DU fee’ component listed by the college is more than three times the university's official share, prompting questions about compliance and transparency.

DU fee vs official share: A stark difference

According to the fee notice seen by the Times of India, first-year students in most programmes, including B.A. (Programme/Honours) and B.Sc. (Honours in Physics and Chemistry), are charged between Rs 11,551 and Rs 11,630 as the DU fee. Officially, DU’s annual share is Rs 3,500, leaving an apparent overcharge exceeding Rs 8,000 per student — a staggering 230% excess. With roughly 400 students in the first-year intake, this amounts to an extra Rs 32 lakh effectively paid to the university, though it remains unclear if these funds have been transferred directly or temporarily retained by the college, TNN reports.For students under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category, the DU fee is listed at Rs 1,150, against the university’s official Rs 875 — a 31% increase. Meanwhile, the college fee ranges from Rs 17,500 to Rs 19,000 per semester. Taken together, the total payable amount for a standard BA or BSc programme approaches Rs 30,000 per semester, significantly higher than first-year fees at comparable DU colleges, such as Miranda House with Rs 16,000–20,000 annually and Ramjas College with Rs 15,000–17,000 annually, TOI found.

St Stephen's college fee structure 2025-26

To give readers a clear picture, here is the detailed fee structure for first-year students across categories at St Stephen’s College for 2025-26.

College’s rationale and university response

Haneet Gandhi, Dean of Admissions at Delhi University, told TOI, “There is only one payment system. Students are required to pay their fees through the DU portal, from which the university keeps its share and transfers the rest to colleges. No other medium of payment can be created as per rules.” Gandhi confirmed that the university's official share was Rs 3,500 and called the excess listed by the college “the college’s fault.”According to Gandhi, DU has already transferred 60% of the college’s share from the total fees collected, including the inflated DU component. This indicates that the extra Rs 32 lakh paid as part of the DU fee may ultimately remain with the college rather than the university.Chinkhanlun Guite, Bursar and Public Relations Officer at St Stephen's, in an interaction with TOI, said, “It was done for the convenience of students.” When asked whether the college had sought DU’s permission for the separate system, he replied “No such permission is required,” and declined to comment on the nearly threefold DU fee listed. Repeated calls to Principal John Varghese went unanswered.

A history of tension between DU and St Stephen’s

The controversy highlights longstanding tensions between St Stephen's and DU over administrative autonomy. While the college cites its minority status to defend internal procedures, including separate interviews for applicants, DU insists that affiliated colleges adhere strictly to common regulations. As students pay hefty sums upfront, it underscores the need for clarity in how premier institutions communicate costs.

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