# Man Sentenced for Hate Symbols at Northwestern

> Shahid Hussain gets 7-year prison term after painting Nazi symbols at Northwestern University.
- Title: Man Sentenced for Hate Symbols at Northwestern | Shortify
- Summary: Shahid Hussain gets 7-year prison term after painting Nazi symbols at Northwestern University. Shahid Hussain, 43, of Niles, pleaded guilty to two hate…
- Keywords: shahid hussain, northwestern university, hate crimes, institutional vandalism, cook county, nazi symbols, prison sentence, news, local, Man, Sentenced, Hate
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/09/24/man-hate-symbols-northwestern-university-sentenced-to-7-years-prison
- Published: 2026-09-24T20:48:50.881+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: shahid hussain, northwestern university, hate crimes, institutional vandalism, cook county, nazi symbols, prison sentence, news, local
## Hate Symbols at Northwestern
Shahid Hussain, 43, of Niles, pleaded guilty to two counts of hate and one count of institutional vandalism.
## Sentence Details
Cook County Judge Paul Pavlus sentenced Hussain to seven years in prison during a hearing in Skokie.
## Date of Incidents
Hussain entered Northwestern campus on Jan. 30 to draw swastikas and other Nazi symbols on signs and university property.
## Surveillance Evidence
Surveillance video shows Hussain raising his arm in a Nazi salute while defacing property.
## State's Statement
State’s Attorney Eileen Burke said, 'Acts of hate and intimidation have no place in our communities.'

> Acts of hate and intimidation have no place in our communities.
## Previous Conviction
In 2022, Hussain was convicted of hate crime and institutional vandalism for incidents involving a Jewish day school, synagogues, and a kosher bakery.
## Previous Sentence
Hussain received a three-year prison sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
## Current Status
Northwestern University did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
## Key takeaway

Shahid Hussain, 43, of Niles, pleaded guilty to two hate crimes and one institutional vandalism charge, receiving a 7-year prison sentence.