On spaces admitting no $\ell_p$ or $c_0$ spreading model

Abstract

It is shown that for each separable Banach space $X$ not admitting $\ell_1$ as a spreading model there is a space $Y$ having $X$ as a quotient and not admitting any $\ell_p$ for $1 \leq p < \infty$ or $c_0$ as a spreading model. We also include the solution to a question of W.B. Johnson and H.P. Rosenthal on the existence of a separable space not admitting as a quotient any space with separable dual.