diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
index 884dc40df2..e00e62a7c0 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class CourseDescriptor(SequenceDescriptor):
     
     def has_started(self):
         return time.gmtime() > self.start
-    
+
     @classmethod
     def id_to_location(cls, course_id):
         org, course, name = course_id.split('/')
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ class CourseDescriptor(SequenceDescriptor):
     def id(self):
         return "/".join([self.location.org, self.location.course, self.location.name])
 
+    @property
+    def start_date_text(self):
+        return time.strftime("%m/%d/%y", self.start)
+
     @property
     def title(self):
         return self.metadata['display_name']
@@ -86,8 +90,8 @@ class CourseDescriptor(SequenceDescriptor):
                 with self.system.resources_fs.open(path("about") / section_key + ".html") as htmlFile:
                     return htmlFile.read().decode('utf-8')
             except ResourceNotFoundError:
-                log.exception("Missing about section {key} in course {url}".format(key=section_key, url=self.location.url()))
-                return "! About section missing !"
+                log.warning("Missing about section {key} in course {url}".format(key=section_key, url=self.location.url()))
+                return None
         elif section_key == "title":
             return self.metadata.get('display_name', self.name)
         elif section_key == "university":
diff --git a/lms/templates/course.html b/lms/templates/course.html
index 37a25c7526..c22ff349ea 100644
--- a/lms/templates/course.html
+++ b/lms/templates/course.html
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
       </div>
       <div class="bottom">
         <a href="#" class="university">${course.get_about_section('university')}</a>
-        <span class="start-date">7/23/12</span>
+        <span class="start-date">${course.start_date_text}</span>
       </div>
     </section>
   </div>
diff --git a/lms/templates/portal/course_about.html b/lms/templates/portal/course_about.html
index ac7b5c5a49..51e769a3a4 100644
--- a/lms/templates/portal/course_about.html
+++ b/lms/templates/portal/course_about.html
@@ -23,12 +23,14 @@
         </div>
 
       </section>
+      % if course.get_about_section("video"):
       <a href="#video-modal" class="media" rel="leanModal">
         <div class="hero">
           <img src="${static.url('images/courses/circuits.jpeg')}" />
           <div class="play-intro"></div>
         </div>
       </a>
+      % endif
     </div>
   </header>
 
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@
         </header>
 
         <ol class="important-dates">
-          <li><div class="icon start-icon"></div><p>Classes Start</p><span class="start-date">7/12/12</span></li>
+          <li><div class="icon start-icon"></div><p>Classes Start</p><span class="start-date">${course.start_date_text}</span></li>
           ##<li><div class="icon final-icon"></div><p>Final Exam</p><span class="final-date">12/09/12</span></li>
           ##<li><div class="icon length-icon"></div><p>Course Length</p><span class="course-length">15 weeks</span></li>
           <li><div class="icon number-icon"></div><p>Course Number</p><span class="course-number">${course.number}</span></li>