diff --git a/commentaries/models.py b/commentaries/models.py
index 0da8b2bce3415abcf394799c535f3c324702829a..d64ea58e36c671ef90467009434f1627d75f81e2 100644
--- a/commentaries/models.py
+++ b/commentaries/models.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class Commentary(TimeStampedModel):
         blank=True)
     metadata = JSONField(default={}, blank=True, null=True)
     arxiv_or_DOI_string = models.CharField(
-        max_length=100,
+        max_length=100, default='',
         verbose_name='string form of arxiv nr or DOI for commentary url')
     author_list = models.CharField(max_length=1000)
 
diff --git a/submissions/migrations/0029_auto_20170131_1425.py b/submissions/migrations/0029_auto_20170131_1425.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5127b51d766b76880a954447ea02af0a45e513f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/submissions/migrations/0029_auto_20170131_1425.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Generated by Django 1.10.3 on 2017-01-31 13:25
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+import django.utils.timezone
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('submissions', '0028_auto_20161212_1931'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='submission',
+            name='status',
+            field=models.CharField(choices=[('unassigned', 'Unassigned, undergoing pre-screening'), ('assignment_failed', 'Failed to assign Editor-in-charge; manuscript rejected'), ('EICassigned', 'Editor-in-charge assigned, manuscript under review'), ('review_closed', 'Review period closed, editorial recommendation pending'), ('revision_requested', 'Editor-in-charge has requested revision'), ('resubmitted', 'Has been resubmitted'), ('resubmitted_and_rejected', 'Has been resubmitted and subsequently rejected'), ('resubmitted_and_rejected_visible', 'Has been resubmitted and subsequently rejected (still publicly visible)'), ('voting_in_preparation', 'Voting in preparation (eligible Fellows being selected)'), ('put_to_EC_voting', 'Undergoing voting at the Editorial College'), ('EC_vote_completed', 'Editorial College voting rounded up'), ('accepted', 'Publication decision taken: accept'), ('rejected', 'Publication decision taken: reject'), ('rejected_visible', 'Publication decision taken: reject (still publicly visible)'), ('published', 'Published'), ('withdrawn', 'Withdrawn by the Authors')], default='unassigned', max_length=30),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='submission',
+            name='submission_date',
+            field=models.DateField(default=django.utils.timezone.now, verbose_name='submission date'),
+        ),
+    ]