Can't change topic status

When we are on the main dashboard page and click to reply on a topic, a modal window pops up where we can change the topic status.  But if we click the actual topic and are taken to another page where you see the entire thread and all replies, there is no where on this page to change topic status.  Even when you click reply, you cannot change the topic status anywhere as you could in the modal earlier.  Is it only possible to change the topic status of something in the modal?  And why is replying to a topic necessary to change the topic status?  Am I missing something here?