Coming from the Hoosier state myself, I would say she is probably a transplant that now resides in Bloomington and attended IU. Note I didn't say graduated because so many people attend IU, become knee jerk liberals, but they don't graduate (why do I need a piece of paper telling me have acquired knowledge?) and to the consternation of the locals, they never leave.
I am also from the Hoosier state (although I reside in Sooner country right now), and attended IU from 1991-95. I didn't graduate, but it was for different reasons--found a good man (with a job,even), got married, have had a few kids. I will agree with the knee jerk liberal part, unfortunately, even though it didn't really happen to me. They tried, but my good upbringing and the love of a good man brought me back :)
As a lifelong Hoosier, I would guess she's a Kentuckian whose car broke down on her way to Indianapolis and that's where she stayed or from the "peoples republic of Bloomington".
The dateline on the story said Bedford. BEDFORD! Bloomington may be 20 miles up the road, but Bedford makes FR look like a hotbed of liberalism.
Of course, even Bedford has a few nutcases.