Well, SIL told me that their function as alumni interviewers was to delve into the applicants extra curricular activities only and to get a sense of the applicants as people; all evaluation of academics was handled by the admissions office. And sorry, but I completely reject the notion that the alumni interview has no bearing on the admissions decision. If this is so, why have it?
And regarding the charges of elitism, back off. Her family and mine are not rich, powerful, influential or connected. She doesnt live in a power suburb, but a fairly average town. SIL got into both her undergraduate and graduate schools on her own merits, without hooks at either. I don’t think interviewing the child of an aquaintance you barely know rises to the the level of advocating for your best friend’s child, or would have constituted an ethical lapse.
I completely agree the labelling of the teams as A and B was a mistake, they should have used names like lions and tigers. But upon learning this was all a random exercise, the mom should have ceased. A calm, rational adult should be able to accept this explanation on its face without feeling slighted/threatened.