My hope is right there along with yours. No way to tell, though. Actually, there is no way to tell that the other woman is really her 'friend', neither. However, I think the odds are pretty good on that one. The fact of how they're dressed so alike is pretty telling to me. The little gir's appearance seems somehow incongruous, however.
I did more online research into this one than I normally do for such threads because of this factor. I couldn't find anything to suggest she had a child. It all had to do with this particular situation, others she's been involved in prior to this, or her academic situation.
The fact there are two other people named Frisch at the UofA is intriguing. But that could also be a false hit although the name is not common. Who knows?