College Professor Accused of ‘Peeing’ on Students in Bizarre Scandal

A longtime college professor in Minnesota is facing a felony charge after a student discovered urine on her backpack, leading investigators to uncover a series of bizarre incidents involving urine found in classrooms and other areas of the school’s science building.

Paul Fischer, a former chemistry professor at Macalester College in St. Paul, is accused of causing more than $2,000 in damage to a student’s belongings during an incident that occurred in December 2025.

But the investigation revealed something even more disturbing: Campus officials had already received six reports of urine turning up in unusual places, including water bottles and decorations belonging to other professors.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County District Court, the latest incident unfolded December 5, when a female student was studying in a common area of the college’s Olin-Rice Science Center, just outside Fischer’s office.

The student stepped away from her belongings for approximately six minutes. When she returned, she discovered that her backpack and items inside had been soaked with urine.

She immediately suspected Fischer because he was reportedly the only person nearby while she was gone.

The student later provided investigators with an itemized list of damaged belongings totaling approximately $2,070, according to court records.

As St. Paul police investigated her complaint, they learned that Macalester’s Department of Public Safety had been looking into other mysterious incidents involving urine throughout the science building.

According to the criminal complaint, six reports involving urine had been documented between November 2024 and December 2025.

The discoveries included urine in trash cans, inside people’s water bottles and among decorations belonging to faculty members.

Investigators eventually questioned Fischer, who had taught at the private liberal arts college for more than 25 years.

What he allegedly told police offered a surprising explanation.

According to court documents, Fischer admitted that he had developed a habit of urinating into cups and later emptying their contents into trash cans or laboratory sinks around campus.

He reportedly told investigators that the unusual practice had continued for approximately two years.

However, Fischer maintained that the damage to the student’s backpack was accidental.

He told police he believed he may have spilled urine onto her belongings while attempting to empty a cup into a trash can near his office.

Authorities have not publicly established that Fischer deliberately targeted the student’s backpack, and his explanation remains part of the evidence in the criminal case.

The allegations ultimately ended his lengthy career at Macalester College.

A college spokesperson confirmed to CBS Minnesota that Fischer was no longer employed by the institution.

“Macalester College is aware of the criminal charge against Paul Fischer. Fischer’s employment with Macalester ended during the 2025–26 academic year,” the school said in a statement.

Court documents indicate that Fischer resigned while the college was investigating the series of incidents.

The case first attracted public attention earlier this year when reports emerged that police were investigating a former professor over urine discovered on a student’s belongings.

At that time, the matter had been classified as a lower-level property damage investigation. Prosecutors have since filed a more serious charge.

On October 7, Fischer was charged with first-degree criminal damage to property, a felony under Minnesota law.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine if he is convicted.

Minnesota law allows prosecutors to pursue first-degree property damage charges under certain circumstances, including when the value of the damaged property exceeds $1,000.

The student’s reported losses of approximately $2,070 exceed that threshold, although prosecutors must still prove the elements of the offense in court.

Fischer was charged by summons rather than being immediately arrested and is scheduled to appear in Ramsey County District Court on November 4.

Court records did not identify an attorney representing him, and attempts by local reporters to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.

The allegations have also raised questions about how the earlier incidents were handled and whether additional belongings were damaged before the student’s complaint prompted criminal charges.

Although investigators documented multiple reports of urine found throughout the science center, the current felony charge concerns the damage to the student’s property. Criminal responsibility for each of the earlier incidents has not been separately established in court.

For now, the unusual case has left a former college professor facing potentially serious consequences over conduct that allegedly continued unnoticed by much of the campus community for more than a year.