// 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);