diff --git a/atst/domain/requests.py b/atst/domain/requests.py
index fcdd78bb..85fb688a 100644
--- a/atst/domain/requests.py
+++ b/atst/domain/requests.py
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ class Requests(object):
     AUTO_APPROVE_THRESHOLD = 1000000
 
     @classmethod
-    def create(cls, creator_id, body):
-        request = Request(creator=creator_id, body=body)
+    def create(cls, creator, body):
+        request = Request(creator=creator, body=body)
         request = Requests.set_status(request, RequestStatus.STARTED)
 
         db.session.add(request)
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ class Requests(object):
         return request
 
     @classmethod
-    def exists(cls, request_id, creator_id):
+    def exists(cls, request_id, creator):
         try:
             return db.session.query(
                 exists().where(
-                    and_(Request.id == request_id, Request.creator == creator_id)
+                    and_(Request.id == request_id, Request.creator == creator)
                 )
             ).scalar()
         except exc.DataError:
diff --git a/atst/routes/requests/requests_form.py b/atst/routes/requests/requests_form.py
index ad415775..d384abdf 100644
--- a/atst/routes/requests/requests_form.py
+++ b/atst/routes/requests/requests_form.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ def requests_submit(request_id=None):
 def _check_can_view_request(request_id):
     if Permissions.REVIEW_AND_APPROVE_JEDI_WORKSPACE_REQUEST in g.current_user.atat_permissions:
         pass
-    elif Requests.exists(request_id, g.current_user.id):
+    elif Requests.exists(request_id, g.current_user):
         pass
     else:
         raise UnauthorizedError(g.current_user, "view request {}".format(request_id))
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index c3add296..ab912679 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import alembic.command
 
 from atst.app import make_app, make_config
 from atst.database import db as _db
-from .mocks import MOCK_USER
 import tests.factories as factories
 
 
@@ -75,7 +74,6 @@ class DummyForm(dict):
 
 
 class DummyField(object):
-
     def __init__(self, data=None, errors=(), raw_data=None):
         self.data = data
         self.errors = list(errors)
@@ -93,9 +91,11 @@ def dummy_field():
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def user_session(monkeypatch):
-
-    def set_user_session(user=MOCK_USER):
-        monkeypatch.setattr("atst.domain.auth.get_current_user", lambda *args: user)
+def user_session(monkeypatch, session):
+    def set_user_session(user=None):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            "atst.domain.auth.get_current_user",
+            lambda *args: user or factories.UserFactory.build(),
+        )
 
     return set_user_session
diff --git a/tests/domain/test_requests.py b/tests/domain/test_requests.py
index fad23c51..ebdc64a0 100644
--- a/tests/domain/test_requests.py
+++ b/tests/domain/test_requests.py
@@ -53,6 +53,6 @@ def test_dont_auto_approve_if_no_dollar_value_specified(new_request):
 def test_exists(session):
     user_allowed = UserFactory.create()
     user_denied = UserFactory.create()
-    request = RequestFactory.create(creator=user_allowed.id)
-    assert Requests.exists(request.id, user_allowed.id)
-    assert not Requests.exists(request.id, user_denied.id)
+    request = RequestFactory.create(creator=user_allowed)
+    assert Requests.exists(request.id, user_allowed)
+    assert not Requests.exists(request.id, user_denied)
diff --git a/tests/factories.py b/tests/factories.py
index 68209045..cf81fa71 100644
--- a/tests/factories.py
+++ b/tests/factories.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class RoleFactory(factory.alchemy.SQLAlchemyModelFactory):
 
     permissions = []
 
-    
+
 class UserFactory(factory.alchemy.SQLAlchemyModelFactory):
     class Meta:
         model = User
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class RequestFactory(factory.alchemy.SQLAlchemyModelFactory):
 
     id = factory.Sequence(lambda x: uuid4())
     status_events = factory.RelatedFactory(
-        RequestStatusFactory, "request", new_status=RequestStatus.STARTED
+        RequestStatusEventFactory, "request", new_status=RequestStatus.STARTED
     )
     creator = factory.SubFactory(UserFactory)
     body = factory.LazyAttribute(lambda r: RequestFactory.build_request_body(r.creator))
diff --git a/tests/routes/test_request_new.py b/tests/routes/test_request_new.py
index e402e622..e31aae79 100644
--- a/tests/routes/test_request_new.py
+++ b/tests/routes/test_request_new.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def test_submit_valid_request_form(monkeypatch, client, user_session):
 def test_owner_can_view_request(client, user_session):
     user = UserFactory.create()
     user_session(user)
-    request = RequestFactory.create(creator=user.id)
+    request = RequestFactory.create(creator=user)
 
     response = client.get("/requests/new/1/{}".format(request.id), follow_redirects=True)