You've left your parents, but for only a small portion of your measly paycheck you can have them back. As a student you expect college to be string-free, and most students look forward to living on their own. The younger half of the college clan is forced to live in residence halls and partake in pricey meal plans.
Students can mingle with others on their floor all night long, and it's an easy way to meet people.
For freshmen this is especially good. If they aren't forced to interact socially their first year of college they will be destined to stay in their cell block room forever. Resident assistants understand this, and they try very hard to make the communal living experience an enjoyable one for all. Many RAs organize events for floor members to get to know one another. In addition to being forced to live in a residence hall, students are forced to participate in meal plans.