// 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);