Macalester College had been the site of several incidents of vandalism involving urine over several months in 2025. But according to court documents, what appeared to be pranks by unruly students at the private college in Saint Paul, Minnesota, were allegedly carried out by a professor.
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The Pisser Was Allegedly a Professor
As the New York Post reports, the case broke when a student working at Macalester College's Olin-Rice Science Center found her backpack soaked with a smelly yellow liquid after she stepped away briefly.
The student told the authorities she believed 55-year-old biology professor Paul Fischer was responsible for the liquid on her backpack. She said he was the only person nearby at the time. According to receipts the student provided, he allegedly caused more than $2,000 in damages.
But police in Saint Paul soon realized this was not an isolated incident. Macalester Public Safety had received six reports involving urine outside the toilet. Documents show it was found in trash cans, water bottles, and decorations belonging to other professors.
Authorities questioned Fischer, who taught at Macalester for more than 25 years. He told police he developed an odd habit over several years of urinating in a cup. He would then dump the urine in campus trash cans or science lab sinks.
The Teacher Has Retired
Fischer told officers that he may have accidentally soaked the student's backpack when he tried to pour a cup of pee into a trash can near his office.
Macalester College told reporters that Fischer stopped teaching on campus after the 2025-2026 academic year. However, a criminal complaint states he resigned as the college began investigating the urination incidents.
Fischer has been charged with first-degree property damage. He faces five years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. He is expected to appear in court in early November. Reporters could not reach Fischer for comment.
