     options.itemClass         or= PrivateMessageListItemView
     options.channelType       or= 'privatemessage'
 
-    options.initialParticipantStatus = 'active'
+    options.initialParticipantStatus  = 'active'
+    options.autoCompleteController  or= ParticipantSearchController
 
     super options, data
 


  createAddParticipantForm: ->

    @autoCompleteForm = new KDFormViewWithFields
      title              : 'START A CHAT WITH:'
      cssClass           : 'new-message-form inline'

          itemClass      : KDView
      submit             : (e) -> e.preventDefault()

    @autoComplete = new autoCompleteController
      name                : 'userController'
      placeholder         : 'Type a username...'
      itemClass           : ActivityAutoCompleteUserItemView
