It was allegedly his only relief.
A Minnesota college professor allegedly urinated on a student’s backpack in what authorities say may be the latest episode in a troubling series of incidents involving urine at the school, according to newly filed court documents.
The incident came to light after a Macalester College student said biology professor Paul Fischer, 55, appeared to relieve himself on Dec. 5, 2025, while she was briefly away from her belongings at the school’s science center. When she returned, she found her backpack damp and smelling of urine, CBS Minnesota reported.
The student reported the matter to authorities and said she believed Fischer was responsible because he was the only person near the backpack at the time, according to police records. Fischer had taught at the Saint Paul university for more than 25 years.
The student submitted receipts estimating that the alleged incident caused about $2,000 in damage, court documents state.
As Saint Paul police investigated, they learned that Macalester Public Safety had received six previous complaints about urine being discovered in locations outside restrooms at the school’s Olin-Rice Science Center, according to the records.
The urine was reportedly found in several unusual places, including trash cans, water bottles and decorations belonging to other professors.
During an interview with police, Fischer allegedly said he had developed a habit over the previous two years of urinating into a cup and then emptying it into campus trash cans or sinks in science laboratories, records show.
Fischer told investigators he may have accidentally splashed the student’s backpack while attempting to pour urine from a cup into a trash can near his office, according to the criminal complaint.
Macalester College told CBS Minnesota that Fischer’s employment ended during the 2025-2026 academic year. The criminal complaint states that he resigned while the college was investigating the reported urine incidents.
Fischer was charged with first-degree property damage, a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. He is expected to appear in court in early November.
Fischer’s attorney information was not immediately available, and he could not be reached for comment.
