def read(*parts):
    """
    Build an absolute path from *parts* and and return the contents of the
    resulting file.  Assume UTF-8 encoding.
    """
    with codecs.open(os.path.join(HERE, *parts), "rb", "utf-8") as f:
        return f.read()
def deadline_for_course(cls, course_key):
        """
        Retrieve the verification deadline for a particular course.

        Arguments:
            course_key (CourseKey): The identifier for the course.

        Returns:
            datetime or None

        """
        try:
            deadline = cls.objects.get(course_key=course_key)
            return deadline.deadline
        except cls.DoesNotExist:
            return None