A Minnesota college professor could face up to five years in jail after allegedly drenching a student's backpack in urine in a bizarre campus incident. Paul Fischer, 55, is accused of soaking the bag after the student briefly stepped away from her workstation at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The student returned to find her bag wet with a foul-smelling yellow liquid. According to court documents, she immediately suspected biology lecturer Fischer, who had worked at the university for over 25 years, because he was the only person around. She claimed the incident caused around $2,000 (£1,500) in damages.
Campus security had logged six complaints
When police investigated, campus security revealed they had already logged six separate complaints about mystery puddles appearing in unexpected locations, according to the New York Post. Records showed urine had been found dumped in office bins, water bottles and even hidden inside other professors' decorations.
When questioned by police, Fischer allegedly admitted to a two-year habit of urinating into cups and throwing the contents into trash cans or lab sinks. He is said to have claimed he might have "accidentally" splattered the student's bag while trying to throw a cup of his own urine into a nearby bin.
Resigned and charged with property damage
Fischer resigned while the university investigated the incidents, with the college confirming his employment ended during the 2025-2026 academic year. He has now been charged with first-degree property damage and faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 (£7,500) fine when he appears in court next month.
