Paul Fischer charged with property damage at Macalester College

Paul Fischer, a 55-year-old former biology professor at Macalester College, has been charged with first-degree property damage following an incident involving a student’s belongings. On December 5, 2025, a student reported finding her backpack damp and smelling of urine at the college’s Olin-Rice Science Center after leaving her belongings unattended for several minutes. The student estimated the damage to her backpack and contents at approximately $2,070.

During the investigation, Saint Paul police discovered that Macalester Public Safety had received six previous complaints regarding urine found in unusual locations at the science center between November 2024 and December 2025. These incidents included urine found in trash cans, water bottles, and decorations belonging to other faculty members.

Fischer, who had taught at the institution for over 25 years, reportedly told investigators that he had developed a habit over the previous two years of urinating into a cup and emptying it into campus sinks or trash cans. He claimed he may have accidentally splashed the student’s backpack while attempting to dispose of urine from a container near his office. Fischer resigned from the college while an internal investigation was ongoing.