diff --git a/static/js/addItemDialog.js b/static/js/addItemDialog.js
index 1798d047..d2b2ec36 100644
--- a/static/js/addItemDialog.js
+++ b/static/js/addItemDialog.js
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ pandora.ui.addItemDialog = function(options) {
             {
                 id: 'import',
                 title: Ox._('Import Video Files'),
-                disabled: !pandora.site.capabilities.canImportItems[pandora.user.level],
+                disabled: !pandora.hasCapability('canImportItems'),
                 selected: selected == 'import'
             }
         ]
diff --git a/static/js/clipList.js b/static/js/clipList.js
index 578794cf..260d2576 100644
--- a/static/js/clipList.js
+++ b/static/js/clipList.js
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ pandora.ui.clipList = function(videoRatio) {
                         pandora.api.get({id: item, keys: ['durations', 'rightslevel', 'streams']}, function(result) {
                             var points = [that.value(id, 'in'), that.value(id, 'out')],
                                 $player = Ox.VideoPlayer({
-                                    censored: pandora.site.capabilities.canPlayClips[pandora.user.level] < result.data.rightslevel
+                                    censored: pandora.hasCapability('canPlayClips') < result.data.rightslevel
                                         ? [{'in': 0, out: points[1] - points[0]}]
                                         : [],
                                     censoredIcon: pandora.site.cantPlay.icon,
diff --git a/static/js/collection.js b/static/js/collection.js
index 8eb74f9b..0a64032d 100644
--- a/static/js/collection.js
+++ b/static/js/collection.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ pandora.ui.collection = function() {
             unique: 'id',
             columns: pandora.site.documentSortKeys.filter(function(key) {
                 return !key.capability
-                    || pandora.site.capabilities[key.capability][pandora.user.level];
+                    || pandora.hasCapability(key.capability);
             }).map(function(key) {
                 var position = ui.collectionColumns.indexOf(key.id);
                 return {
diff --git a/static/js/documentInfoView.js b/static/js/documentInfoView.js
index e2f06af5..99da3df5 100644
--- a/static/js/documentInfoView.js
+++ b/static/js/documentInfoView.js
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 pandora.ui.documentInfoView = function(data) {
 
     var ui = pandora.user.ui,
-        canEdit = pandora.site.capabilities.canEditMetadata[pandora.user.level] || data.editable,
-        canRemove = pandora.site.capabilities.canRemoveItems[pandora.user.level],
+        canEdit = pandora.hasCapability('canEditMetadata') || data.editable,
+        canRemove = pandora.hasCapability('canRemoveItems'),
         css = {
             marginTop: '4px',
             textAlign: 'justify'
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ pandora.ui.documentInfoView = function(data) {
                     .appendTo($line);
             }
             capabilities.forEach(function(capability) {
-                var hasCapability = pandora.site.capabilities[capability.name][userLevel] >= rightsLevel,
+                var hasCapability = pandora.hasCapability(capability.name, userLevel) >= rightsLevel,
                     $element = Ox.Theme.formatColorLevel(hasCapability, ['', '']);
                 Ox.Button({
                         tooltip: (canEdit ? Ox.toTitleCase(userLevel) : 'You') + ' '
diff --git a/static/js/documentsDialog.js b/static/js/documentsDialog.js
index d7b38033..e6f2f862 100644
--- a/static/js/documentsDialog.js
+++ b/static/js/documentsDialog.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pandora.ui.documentsDialog = function() {
         // FIXME: user may not have the manage entites capability
         $switchButton = Ox.Button({
                 disabled: !pandora.site.entities.length
-                    || !pandora.site.capabilities.canManageEntities[pandora.user.level],
+                    || !pandora.hasCapability('canManageEntities'),
                 title: Ox._('Manage Entities...')
             })
             .bindEvent({
diff --git a/static/js/documentsPanel.js b/static/js/documentsPanel.js
index 24d84ff2..9044307a 100644
--- a/static/js/documentsPanel.js
+++ b/static/js/documentsPanel.js
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ pandora.ui.documentsPanel = function(options) {
         var $name, $description, $input,
             item = $list.value($list.options('selected')[0]),
             editable = item.user == pandora.user.username
-                || pandora.site.capabilities.canEditDocuments[pandora.user.level]
+                || pandora.hasCapability('canEditDocuments')
                 || options.editable,
             labelWidth = 80,
             width = ui.documentSize - 16 - Ox.UI.SCROLLBAR_SIZE;
diff --git a/static/js/editPanel.js b/static/js/editPanel.js
index bf0d0ff0..874bab56 100644
--- a/static/js/editPanel.js
+++ b/static/js/editPanel.js
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ pandora.ui.editPanel = function(isEmbed) {
         var $content = Ox.Element()
                 .css({padding: '16px'})
                 .appendTo(that),
-            isEditable = pandora.site.capabilities.canEditSitePages[pandora.user.level];
+            isEditable = pandora.hasCapability('canEditSitePages');
         Ox.EditableContent({
                 editable: false,
                 value: Ox._('{0} Edits', [pandora.site.site.name]),
diff --git a/static/js/editor.js b/static/js/editor.js
index 1a8687d9..3aaeca42 100644
--- a/static/js/editor.js
+++ b/static/js/editor.js
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ pandora.ui.editor = function(data) {
             clickLink: pandora.clickLink,
             cuts: data.cuts || [],
             duration: data.duration,
-            enableDownload: pandora.site.capabilities.canDownloadVideo[pandora.user.level] >= data.rightslevel || data.editable,
-            enableExport: pandora.site.capabilities.canExportAnnotations[pandora.user.level] || data.editable,
-            enableImport: pandora.site.capabilities.canImportAnnotations[pandora.user.level] || data.editable,
+            enableDownload: pandora.hasCapability('canDownloadVideo') >= data.rightslevel || data.editable,
+            enableExport: pandora.hasCapability('canExportAnnotations') || data.editable,
+            enableImport: pandora.hasCapability('canImportAnnotations') || data.editable,
             enableSetPosterFrame: !pandora.site.media.importFrames && data.editable,
             enableSubtitles: ui.videoSubtitles,
             find: ui.itemFind,
diff --git a/static/js/embed/pandora.js b/static/js/embed/pandora.js
index 574e516c..ee225f3c 100755
--- a/static/js/embed/pandora.js
+++ b/static/js/embed/pandora.js
@@ -190,8 +190,8 @@ Ox.load('UI', {
     });
 
     function getVideoOptions(data) {
-        var canPlayClips = data.editable || pandora.site.capabilities.canPlayClips[pandora.user.level] >= data.rightslevel,
-            canPlayVideo = data.editable || pandora.site.capabilities.canPlayVideo[pandora.user.level] >= data.rightslevel,
+        var canPlayClips = data.editable || pandora.hasCapability('canPlayClips') >= data.rightslevel,
+            canPlayVideo = data.editable || pandora.hasCapability('canPlayVideo') >= data.rightslevel,
             options = {},
             subtitlesLayer = pandora.site.layers.filter(function(layer) {
                 return layer.isSubtitles;
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ Ox.load('UI', {
                     annotation.duration = Math.abs(annotation.out - annotation['in']);
                     annotation.editable = annotation.editable
                         || annotation.user == pandora.user.username
-                        || pandora.site.capabilities['canEditAnnotations'][pandora.user.level];
+                        || pandora.hasCapability('canEditAnnotations');
                     return annotation;
                 })
             });
diff --git a/static/js/entityDialog.js b/static/js/entityDialog.js
index 047d6c65..fcd19b1a 100644
--- a/static/js/entityDialog.js
+++ b/static/js/entityDialog.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pandora.ui.entityDialog = function() {
             .css({overflowY: 'auto'}),
 
         that = Ox.Dialog({
-            buttons: (pandora.site.capabilities.canManageEntities[pandora.user.level] ? [
+            buttons: (pandora.hasCapability('canManageEntities') ? [
                 Ox.Button({
                     id: 'edit',
                     title: Ox._('Edit Entity...')
diff --git a/static/js/errorDialog.js b/static/js/errorDialog.js
index 1a83f84d..af909477 100644
--- a/static/js/errorDialog.js
+++ b/static/js/errorDialog.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ pandora.ui.errorDialog = function(data) {
         setTimeout(function() {
             if ($('.OxErrorDialog').length == 0 && !pandora.isUnloading) {
                 showLogsButton = error == 'error'
-                    && pandora.site.capabilities.canSeeDebugMenu[pandora.user.level]
+                    && pandora.hasCapability('canSeeDebugMenu')
                 that = pandora.ui.iconDialog({
                     buttons: (showLogsButton ? [
                         Ox.Button({
diff --git a/static/js/findElement.js b/static/js/findElement.js
index 1581bc77..37439534 100644
--- a/static/js/findElement.js
+++ b/static/js/findElement.js
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ pandora.ui.findElement = function() {
                             items: [].concat(
                                 pandora.site.findKeys.filter(function(key, i) {
                                     return (!key.capability
-                                        || pandora.site.capabilities[key.capability][pandora.user.level])
+                                        || pandora.hasCapability(key.capability))
                                         && !key.advanced;
                                 }).map(function(key) {
                                     return {
diff --git a/static/js/folderList.js b/static/js/folderList.js
index 1ab4ca0b..342f7e61 100644
--- a/static/js/folderList.js
+++ b/static/js/folderList.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ pandora.ui.folderList = function(id, section) {
         i = Ox.getIndexById(pandora.site.sectionFolders[section], id),
         folderItems = pandora.getFolderItems(section),
         folderItem = folderItems.slice(0, -1),
-        canEditFeatured = pandora.site.capabilities['canEditFeatured' + folderItems][pandora.user.level],
+        canEditFeatured = pandora.hasCapability('canEditFeatured' + folderItems),
         $placeholder,
         that;
     var columns, items;
diff --git a/static/js/folders.js b/static/js/folders.js
index 853d03cf..3f9e776c 100644
--- a/static/js/folders.js
+++ b/static/js/folders.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pandora.ui.folders = function(section) {
         }[section]] || '').split(':')[0] == pandora.user.username,
         folderItems = pandora.getFolderItems(section),
         folderItem = folderItems.slice(0, -1),
-        canEditFeatured = pandora.site.capabilities['canEditFeatured' + folderItems][pandora.user.level],
+        canEditFeatured = pandora.hasCapability('canEditFeatured' + folderItems),
         initCounter = 0,
         loadCounter = 0;
     pandora.$ui.allItems = pandora.ui.allItems(section).appendTo(that);
diff --git a/static/js/groupsDialog.js b/static/js/groupsDialog.js
index ec916bda..15064887 100644
--- a/static/js/groupsDialog.js
+++ b/static/js/groupsDialog.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ pandora.ui.groupsDialog = function(options) {
             width: 584 + Ox.UI.SCROLLBAR_SIZE
         }),
 
-        canManageGroups = pandora.site.capabilities.canManageUsers[pandora.user.level],
+        canManageGroups = pandora.hasCapability('canManageUsers'),
         isItem = options.type == 'item',
 
         $content,
diff --git a/static/js/info.js b/static/js/info.js
index 1fe902e3..b8349e5a 100644
--- a/static/js/info.js
+++ b/static/js/info.js
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ pandora.ui.listInfo = function() {
             : pandora.user.ui.section == 'documents'
             ? pandora.user.ui._collection
             : ui[folderItem.toLowerCase()],
-        canEditFeaturedLists = pandora.site.capabilities['canEditFeatured' + folderItems][pandora.user.level],
+        canEditFeaturedLists = pandora.hasCapability('canEditFeatured' + folderItems),
         that = Ox.Element().css({padding: '16px', textAlign: 'center'}),
         $icon = Ox.Element('<img>')
             .attr({
diff --git a/static/js/infoView.0xdb.js b/static/js/infoView.0xdb.js
index a9610326..ee7f1d6c 100644
--- a/static/js/infoView.0xdb.js
+++ b/static/js/infoView.0xdb.js
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ pandora.ui.infoView = function(data) {
     // when collapsing the movies browser, the info view should become a split panel
 
     var ui = pandora.user.ui,
-        canEdit = pandora.site.capabilities.canEditMetadata[pandora.user.level],
-        canRemove = pandora.site.capabilities.canRemoveItems[pandora.user.level],
+        canEdit = pandora.hasCapability('canEditMetadata'),
+        canRemove = pandora.hasCapability('canRemoveItems'),
         canSeeAllMetadata = pandora.user.level != 'guest',
         css = {
             marginTop: '4px',
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ pandora.ui.infoView = function(data) {
                     .appendTo($line);
             }
             capabilities.forEach(function(capability) {
-                var hasCapability = pandora.site.capabilities[capability.name][userLevel] >= rightsLevel,
+                var hasCapability = pandora.hasCapability(capability.name, userLevel) >= rightsLevel,
                     $element = Ox.Theme.formatColorLevel(hasCapability, ['', '']);
                 Ox.Button({
                         tooltip: (canEdit ? Ox.toTitleCase(userLevel) : 'You') + ' '
diff --git a/static/js/infoView.indiancinema.js b/static/js/infoView.indiancinema.js
index 0ea6db71..28f33fe0 100644
--- a/static/js/infoView.indiancinema.js
+++ b/static/js/infoView.indiancinema.js
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 pandora.ui.infoView = function(data) {
 
     var ui = pandora.user.ui,
-        canEdit = pandora.site.capabilities.canEditMetadata[pandora.user.level],
-        canRemove = pandora.site.capabilities.canRemoveItems[pandora.user.level],
+        canEdit = pandora.hasCapability('canEditMetadata'),
+        canRemove = pandora.hasCapability('canRemoveItems'),
         canSeeAllMetadata = pandora.user.level != 'guest',
         css = {
             marginTop: '4px',
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ pandora.ui.infoView = function(data) {
                     {
                         id: 'upload',
                         title: Ox._('Upload Video...'),
-                        disabled: !pandora.site.capabilities.canAddItems[pandora.user.level]
+                        disabled: !pandora.hasCapability('canAddItems')
                     },
                     {},
                     {
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ pandora.ui.infoView = function(data) {
                     .appendTo($line);
             }
             capabilities.forEach(function(capability) {
-                var hasCapability = pandora.site.capabilities[capability.name][userLevel] >= rightsLevel,
+                var hasCapability = pandora.hasCapability(capability.name, userLevel) >= rightsLevel,
                     $element = Ox.Theme.formatColorLevel(hasCapability, ['', '']);
                 Ox.Button({
                         tooltip: Ox._('{0} '
diff --git a/static/js/infoView.js b/static/js/infoView.js
index 4bf04bce..1628681d 100644
--- a/static/js/infoView.js
+++ b/static/js/infoView.js
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ pandora.ui.infoView = function(data) {
 
     var ui = pandora.user.ui,
         descriptions = [],
-        canEdit = pandora.site.capabilities.canEditMetadata[pandora.user.level] || data.editable,
-        canRemove = pandora.site.capabilities.canRemoveItems[pandora.user.level],
+        canEdit = pandora.hasCapability('canEditMetadata') || data.editable,
+        canRemove = pandora.hasCapability('canRemoveItems'),
         css = {
             marginTop: '4px',
             textAlign: 'justify'
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ pandora.ui.infoView = function(data) {
                     .appendTo($line);
             }
             capabilities.forEach(function(capability) {
-                var hasCapability = pandora.site.capabilities[capability.name][userLevel] >= rightsLevel,
+                var hasCapability = pandora.hasCapability(capability.name, userLevel) >= rightsLevel,
                     $element = Ox.Theme.formatColorLevel(hasCapability, ['', '']);
                 Ox.Button({
                         tooltip: (canEdit ? Ox.toTitleCase(userLevel) : 'You') + ' '
diff --git a/static/js/infoView.padma.js b/static/js/infoView.padma.js
index 1a9faf80..66167e68 100644
--- a/static/js/infoView.padma.js
+++ b/static/js/infoView.padma.js
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 pandora.ui.infoView = function(data) {
 
     var ui = pandora.user.ui,
-        canEdit = pandora.site.capabilities.canEditMetadata[pandora.user.level] || data.editable,
-        canRemove = pandora.site.capabilities.canRemoveItems[pandora.user.level] || data.editable,
+        canEdit = pandora.hasCapability('canEditMetadata') || data.editable,
+        canRemove = pandora.hasCapability('canRemoveItems') || data.editable,
         css = {
             marginTop: '4px',
             textAlign: 'justify'
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ pandora.ui.infoView = function(data) {
                     .appendTo($line);
             }
             capabilities.forEach(function(capability) {
-                var hasCapability = pandora.site.capabilities[capability.name][userLevel] >= rightsLevel,
+                var hasCapability = pandora.hasCapability(capability.name, userLevel) >= rightsLevel,
                     $element = Ox.Theme.formatColorLevel(hasCapability, ['', '']);
                 Ox.Button({
                         tooltip: Ox._('{0} '
diff --git a/static/js/item.js b/static/js/item.js
index 13ced163..b4a6c346 100644
--- a/static/js/item.js
+++ b/static/js/item.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ pandora.ui.item = function() {
     pandora.api.get({
         id: pandora.user.ui.item,
         keys: isVideoView ? Ox.unique(pandora.VIDEO_OPTIONS_KEYS.concat(pandora.site.itemTitleKeys)) : []
-    }, pandora.user.ui.itemView == 'info' && pandora.site.capabilities.canEditMetadata[pandora.user.level] ? 0 : -1, function(result) {
+    }, pandora.user.ui.itemView == 'info' && pandora.hasCapability('canEditMetadata') ? 0 : -1, function(result) {
 
         if (pandora.user.ui.item != item) {
             return;
diff --git a/static/js/itemClips.js b/static/js/itemClips.js
index 071e033e..899c63d3 100644
--- a/static/js/itemClips.js
+++ b/static/js/itemClips.js
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ pandora.ui.itemClips = function(options) {
                             result.data.durations, points
                         ),
                         $player = Ox.VideoPlayer({
-                            censored: pandora.site.capabilities.canPlayClips[pandora.user.level] < result.data.rightslevel
+                            censored: pandora.hasCapability('canPlayClips') < result.data.rightslevel
                                 ? [{'in': partsAndPoints.points[0], out: partsAndPoints.points[1]}]
                                 : [],
                             enableMouse: true,
diff --git a/static/js/list.js b/static/js/list.js
index 5a05f534..14a414a3 100644
--- a/static/js/list.js
+++ b/static/js/list.js
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ pandora.ui.list = function() {
                 width: 16
             }], pandora.site.sortKeys.filter(function(key) {
                 return !key.capability
-                    || pandora.site.capabilities[key.capability][pandora.user.level];
+                    || pandora.hasCapability(key.capability);
             }).map(function(key) {
                 var position = ui.listColumns.indexOf(key.id);
                 return {
diff --git a/static/js/mediaView.js b/static/js/mediaView.js
index f270de10..8630dc34 100644
--- a/static/js/mediaView.js
+++ b/static/js/mediaView.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 pandora.ui.mediaView = function(options) {
 
-    var canRemove = pandora.site.capabilities.canRemoveItems[pandora.user.level] || options.editable,
+    var canRemove = pandora.hasCapability('canRemoveItems') || options.editable,
         self = {},
         keys = ['title', 'director', 'year', 'id'],
         listKeys = keys.filter(function(key) {
diff --git a/static/js/navigationView.js b/static/js/navigationView.js
index 86328306..9cd4d4fa 100644
--- a/static/js/navigationView.js
+++ b/static/js/navigationView.js
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ pandora.ui.navigationView = function(type, videoRatio) {
 
         that.replaceElement(0,
             $element = Ox.Map({
-                // clickable: pandora.site.capabilities.canClickMap[pandora.user.level],
+                // clickable: pandora.hasCapability('canClickMap'),
                 find: ui.mapFind,
                 // 20 px menu + 24 px toolbar + 1px resizbar + 16px statusbar (if !item)
                 height: isEmbed ? window.innerHeight - 40
diff --git a/static/js/news.js b/static/js/news.js
index d05932ce..504a01c7 100644
--- a/static/js/news.js
+++ b/static/js/news.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ pandora.ui.news = function(width, height) {
         backgroundColor = Ox.Theme() == 'oxlight' ? 'rgb(224, 224, 224)'
             : Ox.Theme() == 'oxmedium' ? 'rgb(128, 128, 128)'
             : 'rgb(32, 32, 32)',        
-        isEditable = pandora.site.capabilities.canEditSitePages[pandora.user.level],
+        isEditable = pandora.hasCapability('canEditSitePages'),
         items = [],
         $text;
 
diff --git a/static/js/player.js b/static/js/player.js
index fca39c65..ee6dfef4 100644
--- a/static/js/player.js
+++ b/static/js/player.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ pandora.ui.player = function(data) {
             clickLink: pandora.clickLink,
             cuts: data.cuts || [],
             duration: data.duration,
-            enableDownload: pandora.site.capabilities.canDownloadVideo[pandora.user.level] >= data.rightslevel,
+            enableDownload: pandora.hasCapability('canDownloadVideo') >= data.rightslevel,
             enableSubtitles: ui.videoSubtitles,
             find: ui.itemFind,
             getLargeTimelineURL: function(type, i) {
diff --git a/static/js/siteDialog.0xdb.js b/static/js/siteDialog.0xdb.js
index 78f81180..102e3939 100644
--- a/static/js/siteDialog.0xdb.js
+++ b/static/js/siteDialog.0xdb.js
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@
 
 pandora.ui.siteDialog = function(section) {
 
-    var canSeeVersion = pandora.site.capabilities.canSeeSoftwareVersion[pandora.user.level],
+    var canSeeVersion = pandora.hasCapability('canSeeSoftwareVersion'),
         dialogHeight = Math.round((window.innerHeight - 48) * 0.75),
         dialogWidth = Math.round(window.innerWidth * 0.75),
-        isEditable = pandora.site.capabilities.canEditSitePages[pandora.user.level],
+        isEditable = pandora.hasCapability('canEditSitePages'),
         tabs = Ox.clone(pandora.site.sitePages, true).map(function(page) {
             page.title = Ox._(page.title);
             return page;
diff --git a/static/js/siteDialog.js b/static/js/siteDialog.js
index b0cf91f8..cd29cf35 100644
--- a/static/js/siteDialog.js
+++ b/static/js/siteDialog.js
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@
 
 pandora.ui.siteDialog = function(section) {
 
-    var canSeeVersion = pandora.site.capabilities.canSeeSoftwareVersion[pandora.user.level],
+    var canSeeVersion = pandora.hasCapability('canSeeSoftwareVersion'),
         dialogHeight = Math.round((window.innerHeight - 48) * 0.75),
         dialogWidth = Math.round(window.innerWidth * 0.75),
-        isEditable = pandora.site.capabilities.canEditSitePages[pandora.user.level],
+        isEditable = pandora.hasCapability('canEditSitePages'),
         tabs = Ox.clone(pandora.site.sitePages, true).map(function(page) {
             page.title = Ox._(page.title);
             return page;
diff --git a/static/js/tasksDialog.js b/static/js/tasksDialog.js
index 48dafd13..dc5ec8fd 100644
--- a/static/js/tasksDialog.js
+++ b/static/js/tasksDialog.js
@@ -149,9 +149,7 @@ pandora.ui.tasksDialog = function(options) {
             ],
             width: 128
         }).css({
-            display: pandora.site.capabilities.canSeeAllTasks[
-                pandora.user.level
-            ] ? 'block' : 'none',
+            display: pandora.hasCapability('canSeeAllTasks') ? 'block' : 'none',
             margin: '8px 4px 4px 4px'
         }).bindEvent({
             change: function(data) {
diff --git a/static/js/uploadVideoDialog.js b/static/js/uploadVideoDialog.js
index f62a5f80..157cda8d 100644
--- a/static/js/uploadVideoDialog.js
+++ b/static/js/uploadVideoDialog.js
@@ -9,9 +9,7 @@ pandora.ui.uploadVideoDialog = function(data) {
             $.browser.version < '35' || Firefogg().version >= 334
         ),
         infoContent = Ox._('Please select the video file that you want to upload.'),
-        itemView = pandora.site.capabilities.canSeeExtraItemViews[
-            pandora.user.level
-        ] ? 'media' : 'info',
+        itemView = pandora.hasCapability('canSeeExtraItemViews') ? 'media' : 'info',
         selectFile,
         $actionButton,
         $closeButton,
diff --git a/static/js/viewSelect.js b/static/js/viewSelect.js
index e487e2d1..b61acf74 100644
--- a/static/js/viewSelect.js
+++ b/static/js/viewSelect.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ pandora.ui.viewSelect = function() {
         that;
     if (
         viewKey == 'itemView'
-        && pandora.site.capabilities.canSeeExtraItemViews[pandora.user.level]
+        && pandora.hasCapability('canSeeExtraItemViews')
     ) {
         items = items.concat([
             {},