diff --git a/docs/settings.rst b/docs/settings.rst
index 38bb35fb..b6a5f03b 100644
--- a/docs/settings.rst
+++ b/docs/settings.rst
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ These changes are visible throughout django-helpdesk
   
   **Default:** ``HELPDESK_AUTO_SUBSCRIBE_ON_TICKET_RESPONSE = False``
 
+- **HELPDESK_EMAIL_SUBJECT_TEMPLATE ** Subject template for templated emails. ``%(subject)s`` represents the subject wording from the email template (e.g. "(Closed)").
+
+  **Default:** ``HELPDESK_EMAIL_SUBJECT_TEMPLATE = "{{ ticket.ticket }} {{ ticket.title|safe }} %(subject)s"``
+
 
 Options shown on public pages
 -----------------------------
diff --git a/helpdesk/lib.py b/helpdesk/lib.py
index 39bc3074..3188c9c0 100644
--- a/helpdesk/lib.py
+++ b/helpdesk/lib.py
@@ -104,8 +104,9 @@ def send_templated_mail(template_name, email_context, recipients, sender=None, b
         ).render(context)
 
     subject_part = loader.get_template_from_string(
-        "{{ ticket.ticket }} {{ ticket.title|safe }} %s" % t.subject
-        ).render(context)
+        settings.HELPDESK_EMAIL_SUBJECT_TEMPLATE % {
+            "subject": t.subject,
+        }).render(context)
 
     if isinstance(recipients,(str,unicode)):
         if recipients.find(','):
diff --git a/helpdesk/settings.py b/helpdesk/settings.py
index 20140721..52fb4900 100644
--- a/helpdesk/settings.py
+++ b/helpdesk/settings.py
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ HELPDESK_STAFF_ONLY_TICKET_OWNERS = getattr(settings, 'HELPDESK_STAFF_ONLY_TICKE
 HELPDESK_STAFF_ONLY_TICKET_CC = getattr(settings, 'HELPDESK_STAFF_ONLY_TICKET_CC', False)
 
 
+# allow the subject to have a configurable template.
+HELPDESK_EMAIL_SUBJECT_TEMPLATE = getattr(settings, 'HELPDESK_EMAIL_SUBJECT_TEMPLATE', "{{ ticket.ticket }} {{ ticket.title|safe }} %(subject)s")
+
 
 ''' options for staff.create_ticket view '''
 # hide the 'assigned to' / 'Case owner' field from the 'create_ticket' view?
diff --git a/helpdesk/urls.py b/helpdesk/urls.py
index 9ea4fb99..caa1d3f5 100644
--- a/helpdesk/urls.py
+++ b/helpdesk/urls.py
@@ -160,11 +160,11 @@ urlpatterns += patterns('helpdesk.views.public',
 )
 
 urlpatterns += patterns('',
-    url(r'^rss/user/(?P<user_name>[\.\@A-Za-z0-9_-]+)/$',
+    url(r'^rss/user/(?P<user_name>[^/]+)/$',
         login_required(feeds.OpenTicketsByUser()),
         name='helpdesk_rss_user'),
-    
-    url(r'^rss/user/(?P<user_name>[\.\@A-Za-z0-9_-]+)/(?P<queue_slug>[A-Za-z0-9_-]+)/$',
+
+    url(r'^rss/user/(?P<user_name>[^/]+)/(?P<queue_slug>[A-Za-z0-9_-]+)/$',
         login_required(feeds.OpenTicketsByUser()),
         name='helpdesk_rss_user_queue'),
     
diff --git a/helpdesk/views/staff.py b/helpdesk/views/staff.py
index 0a8a33cf..e491c2d8 100644
--- a/helpdesk/views/staff.py
+++ b/helpdesk/views/staff.py
@@ -237,9 +237,9 @@ def view_ticket(request, ticket_id):
         return update_ticket(request, ticket_id)
 
     if helpdesk_settings.HELPDESK_STAFF_ONLY_TICKET_OWNERS:
-        users = User.objects.filter(is_active=True, is_staff=True).order_by('username')
+        users = User.objects.filter(is_active=True, is_staff=True).order_by(User.USERNAME_FIELD)
     else:
-        users = User.objects.filter(is_active=True).order_by('username')
+        users = User.objects.filter(is_active=True).order_by(User.USERNAME_FIELD)
 
 
     # TODO: shouldn't this template get a form to begin with?