diff --git a/lib/code_corps/messages/messages.ex b/lib/code_corps/messages/messages.ex
index a4bf3b731..df67d4a36 100644
--- a/lib/code_corps/messages/messages.ex
+++ b/lib/code_corps/messages/messages.ex
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ defmodule CodeCorps.Messages do
     Repo
   }
   alias Ecto.{Changeset, Queryable}
+  
+  @reopened "reopened"
+  @closed "closed"
 
   @doc ~S"""
   Lists pre-scoped `CodeCorps.Message` records filtered by parameters.
@@ -55,19 +58,22 @@ defmodule CodeCorps.Messages do
   @doc ~S"""
   Updates a `CodeCorps.Conversation` record
   """  
+  def update_conversation(conversation, %{status: @reopened} = params) do
+    add_part(%{"conversation_id" => conversation.id, "body" => "reopened", "author_id" 
+      => conversation.user_id,  "part_type" => "reopened"})
+    conversation |> Conversation.update_changeset(params) |> Repo.update
+  end
+  
+  def update_conversation(conversation, %{status: @closed} = params) do
+    add_part(%{"conversation_id" => conversation.id, "body" => "closed", "author_id" 
+      => conversation.user_id,  "part_type" => "closed"})
+    conversation |> Conversation.update_changeset(params) |> Repo.update
+  end
+  
   def update_conversation(conversation, params) do
-    %{status: status} = params
-    case status do
-      "reopened" ->
-          add_part(%{"conversation_id" => conversation.id, "body" => "reopened", "author_id" 
-          => conversation.user_id,  "part_type" => "reopened"})
-      "closed" ->
-        add_part(%{"conversation_id" => conversation.id, "body" => "closed", "author_id" 
-        => conversation.user_id,  "part_type" => "closed"})
-        
-    end
     conversation |> Conversation.update_changeset(params) |> Repo.update
   end
+  
 
   @doc ~S"""
   Gets a `CodeCorps.ConversationPart` record