// make sure the $ is pointing to JQuery and not some other library
	(function($){
	    // add a new method to JQuery
	 
	    $.fn.equalHeight = function() {
	       // find the tallest height in the collection
	       // that was passed in (.column)
	        tallest = 0;
	        this.each(function(){
            thisHeight = $(this).height();
            if( thisHeight > tallest)
                tallest = thisHeight;
	        });
	 
	        // set each items height to use the tallest value found
	        this.each(function(){
	            $(this).height(tallest);
	        });
	    }
})(jQuery);