Parent should if they can! But there's also a big difference in intentionality between meeting someone on the quad / outside your room and starting a meetup with friends (or new friends!) scattered across town.

Would also suggest looking for social clubs. I've found the "general social hangouts + minimal focus on a shared interest" are great for people time.

Avoids the monomaniacal over-focus of a single-interest activity, while still providing a bridge with random strangers ("You like thing? I like thing!").