diff --git a/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/discussion_module_view.coffee b/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/discussion_module_view.coffee
index 4e4c2d1e7a..2e58b2c0b8 100644
--- a/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/discussion_module_view.coffee
+++ b/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/discussion_module_view.coffee
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ if Backbone?
       #determined in the coffeescript based on whether or not there's a
       #group id
       
-      if response.is_cohorted
+      if response.is_cohorted and response.is_moderator
         source = "script#_inline_discussion_cohorted"
       else
         source = "script#_inline_discussion"
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/views.py
index e4e5ce1550..c93ca5f308 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/views.py
@@ -96,24 +96,25 @@ def create_thread(request, course_id, commentable_id):
 
     #kevinchugh because the new requirement is that all groups will be determined
     #by the group id in the request this all goes away
+    #not anymore, only for admins
     
     # Cohort the thread if the commentable is cohorted.
-    #if is_commentable_cohorted(course_id, commentable_id):
-    #    user_group_id = get_cohort_id(user, course_id)
+    if is_commentable_cohorted(course_id, commentable_id):
+        user_group_id = get_cohort_id(user, course_id)
+
         # TODO (vshnayder): once we have more than just cohorts, we'll want to
         # change this to a single get_group_for_user_and_commentable function
         # that can do different things depending on the commentable_id
-    #    if cached_has_permission(request.user, "see_all_cohorts", course_id):
+        if cached_has_permission(request.user, "see_all_cohorts", course_id):
             # admins can optionally choose what group to post as
-    #        group_id = post.get('group_id', user_group_id)
-    #    else:
+            group_id = post.get('group_id', user_group_id)
+        else:
             # regular users always post with their own id.
-    #        group_id = user_group_id
-    group_id = post.get('group_id')
+            group_id = user_group_id
+
     if group_id:
       thread.update_attributes(group_id=group_id)
     
-    log.debug("Saving thread %r", thread.attributes)
     thread.save()
 
     if post.get('auto_subscribe', 'false').lower() == 'true':
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
index efacbc1b4e..d4a6d0cc38 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
@@ -133,32 +133,23 @@ def inline_discussion(request, course_id, discussion_id):
     #if the commentable is cohorted, otherwise everything is not cohorted
     #and no one has the option of choosing a cohort
     is_cohorted = is_course_cohorted(course_id) and is_commentable_cohorted(course_id, discussion_id)
-
+    is_moderator = cached_has_permission(request.user, "see_all_cohorts", course_id)
+    
     cohorts_list = list()
     
     if is_cohorted:
       cohorts_list.append({'name':'All Groups','id':None})
       
       #if you're a mod, send all cohorts and let you pick
-      if cached_has_permission(request.user, "see_all_cohorts", course_id):
+      
+      if is_moderator:
           cohorts = get_course_cohorts(course_id)
           for c in cohorts:
               cohorts_list.append({'name':c.name, 'id':c.id})
               
       else:
-      #otherwise, just make a dictionary of two 
-          user_cohort = get_cohort(cc_user, course_id)
-          if user_cohort:
-              user_cohort_name = user_cohort.name
-              user_cohort_id = user_cohort.id
-          else:
-              user_cohort_name = user_cohort_id = None
-          
-          if user_cohort:
-              cohorts_list.append({'name':user_cohort_name, 'id':user_cohort_id})
-          else:
-              cohorts_list = None
-          
+          #students don't get to choose
+          cohorts_list = None
           
     return utils.JsonResponse({
         'discussion_data': map(utils.safe_content, threads),
@@ -170,6 +161,7 @@ def inline_discussion(request, course_id, discussion_id):
         'allow_anonymous_to_peers': allow_anonymous_to_peers,
         'allow_anonymous': allow_anonymous,
         'cohorts': cohorts_list,
+        'is_moderator': is_moderator,
         'is_cohorted': is_cohorted
     })
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/discussion/_new_post.html b/lms/templates/discussion/_new_post.html
index 223b593368..7848dd1488 100644
--- a/lms/templates/discussion/_new_post.html
+++ b/lms/templates/discussion/_new_post.html
@@ -46,21 +46,18 @@
                     %elif course.metadata.get("allow_anonymous_to_peers", False):
                         <input type="checkbox" name="anonymous_to_peers" class="discussion-anonymous-to-peers" id="new-post-anonymous-to-peers"><label for="new-post-anonymous-to-peers">post anonymously to classmates</label>
                     %endif
-                    %if is_course_cohorted:
+                    %if is_course_cohorted and is_moderator:
                     <div class="form-group-label choose-cohort">
                         Make visible to:
                         <select class="group-filter-select new-post-group" name = "group_id"> 
                             <option value="">All Groups</option>
-                            %if is_moderator:
-                              %for c in cohorts:
-                                <option value="${c.id}">${c.name}</option>
-                              %endfor
-                            %else:
-                                %if user_cohort:
-                                    <option value="${user_cohort}">My Cohort</option>
+                            %for c in cohorts:
+                                <option value="${c.id}" 
+                                %if user_cohort and str(user_cohort) == str(c.id):
+                                    selected
                                 %endif
-                            %endif
-
+                                >${c.name}</option>
+                            %endfor
                         </select>
                     </div>
                     %endif