Macalester Professor Charged After Property Damage
A longtime chemistry professor faces felony charges following reports of property damage on campus.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Chemistry
St. Paul police have charged 55-year-old chemistry professor Paul Jerome Fischer with felony criminal damage to property. The charges follow reports involving the contamination of student property at Macalester College.
Why it matters
The case highlights campus security and conduct oversight within academic research environments. It follows a series of reported incidents at the Olin-Rice Science Center that have led to the professor's resignation from the institution.
The charges specify property damage totaling $2,070 stemming from incidents reported between November and December 2025. This follows a 25-year tenure at Macalester College for the defendant.
The players
Paul Jerome Fischer
A 55-year-old chemistry professor who worked at Macalester College for 25 years before his resignation.
Macalester College
A private liberal arts college in St. Paul where the incidents occurred.
The details
Authorities allege that Fischer engaged in a habitual practice of urinating in cups and disposing of them throughout the Olin-Rice Science Center. Police reports indicate that one student's backpack was damaged after being left unattended for six minutes, leading to the identification of the professor. Fischer allegedly admitted to the behavior, which occurred over several weeks.
Timeline
Nov 11 - Dec 5, 2025: Six reports of urination occurred at Olin-Rice Science Center.
Dec 5, 2025: Incident involving student's backpack occurred.
Feb 2, 2026: St. Paul police received the student's report.
Oct 7, 2026: Criminal complaint was filed.
November 2026: Fischer is due to make first court appearance.
The Tech Race
The criminal charging of a long-term faculty member marks a departure from typical internal administrative handling of campus conduct incidents. The case highlights how such campus-based behaviors interact with the Macalester College student conduct policy framework.
The resignation of a professor with 25 years of experience disrupts ongoing department operations and lab availability at the Olin-Rice Science Center. Students and faculty should monitor the college's public statements regarding potential changes to campus security protocols.
The takeaway
The event serves as a reminder of the intersection between academic conduct and local criminal jurisdiction. Readers should watch for the outcome of the court appearance in November 2026 to see how the legal system resolves the property damage allegations.
What happens next
Fischer is scheduled to make his first court appearance in November 2026.
Further reading
For broader context on institutional safety, read more in Chemistry.
