diff --git a/postem-app/src/java/org/sakaiproject/tool/postem/PostemTool.java b/postem-app/src/java/org/sakaiproject/tool/postem/PostemTool.java
index 4974000..1f69194 100644
--- a/postem-app/src/java/org/sakaiproject/tool/postem/PostemTool.java
+++ b/postem-app/src/java/org/sakaiproject/tool/postem/PostemTool.java
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ public class PostemTool {
 
 	protected Gradebook currentGradebook;
 
+	protected TreeMap studentMap;
+
 	protected Gradebook oldGradebook;
 
 	protected String userId;
@@ -767,8 +769,8 @@ public class PostemTool {
 		if (isEditable()) {
 			currentGradebook = gradebookManager.getGradebookByIdWithHeadings(currentGbId);
 			currentGradebook.setUsernames(gradebookManager.getUsernamesInGradebook(currentGradebook));
-			TreeMap ss = currentGradebook.getStudentMap();
-			setSelectedStudent((String) ss.firstKey());
+			studentMap = currentGradebook.getStudentMap();
+			setSelectedStudent((String) studentMap.firstKey());
 			return "view_student";
 		}
diff --git a/postem-app/src/webapp/postem/view_student.jsp b/postem-app/src/webapp/postem/view_student.jsp
index c81039a..34e9364 100644
--- a/postem-app/src/webapp/postem/view_student.jsp
+++ b/postem-app/src/webapp/postem/view_student.jsp
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 		  	<sakai:panel_edit>
 		  		<h:outputLabel styleClass="shorttext" for="participant"><h:outputText value="#{msgs.choose_username}"/></h:outputLabel>
 		  		<h:selectOneMenu value="#{PostemTool.selectedStudent}" id="participant" onchange="submit()">
-		  			<f:selectItems value="#{PostemTool.currentGradebook.studentMap}"/>
+		  			<f:selectItems value="#{PostemTool.studentMap}"/>
 		  		</h:selectOneMenu>
 		  	</sakai:panel_edit>