Professor Accused of Urinating on Student's Backpack Identified as Serial 'Sprinkler'

A Macalester College professor has been charged in connection with the alleged urination on a student's backpack, an incident that authorities believe is part of a series of similar acts on campus. Paul Fischer, 55, a biology professor at the Saint Paul university, is accused of urinating on a student's backpack on December 5, 2025, after the student had briefly stepped away from her workspace in the school's science center.

Upon returning, the student discovered her backpack was wet and emitting a strong odor, according to CBS Minnesota. She reported the incident to authorities, suspecting Fischer, who was the only individual nearby at the time. The student estimated damages to her backpack at $2,000.

An investigation by Saint Paul police revealed that Macalester Public Safety had received six prior reports of urine being found in unusual locations within the Olin-Rice Science Center. These locations included trash cans, water bottles, and even inside other professors' decorations.

During questioning, Fischer reportedly confessed to a habit over the past two years of urinating into a cup and disposing of it in campus trash cans or science lab sinks. He told police that he may have accidentally urinated on the student's backpack while attempting to discard a cup of urine into a trash can near his office.

Fischer's employment at Macalester College ended during the 2025-2026 academic year. A criminal complaint states that he resigned while the college was investigating the series of urination incidents.

The former professor has been charged with first-degree property damage. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Fischer is scheduled to appear in court in early November. Information regarding his legal representation was not immediately available, and he could not be reached for comment.