diff --git a/django/website/data_layer/handlers.py b/django/website/data_layer/handlers.py
index 2d31bff11699106826ea62b658e067f1f0a641f3..8910d4ccc95802d907896f0bae92951e317fd9b4 100644
--- a/django/website/data_layer/handlers.py
+++ b/django/website/data_layer/handlers.py
@@ -9,5 +9,9 @@ class Message(object):
 
     @classmethod
     def list(cls):
-        # TODO: I think we should probably use a DRF serializer here
+        # TODO: probably use a DRF serializer here instead of .values()?
         return models.Message.objects.values().iterator()
+
+
+# TODO rename this class?
+Item = Message
diff --git a/django/website/data_layer/models.py b/django/website/data_layer/models.py
index dc85fe3977d526ee0b2fddf41c3398cf9054e6c0..a9a061f93c45e0c8e4c3df1e429f95a9f90038a3 100644
--- a/django/website/data_layer/models.py
+++ b/django/website/data_layer/models.py
@@ -11,3 +11,6 @@ class DataLayerModel(models.Model):
 class Message(DataLayerModel):
     body = models.TextField()
     timestamp = models.DateTimeField(null=True)
+
+# TODO: rename this class
+Item = Message