But neither of them has the unfortunate implications of featuring a woman answering the phone.
For
you-and
only you-she's answering the phone.
First off, it's not "me and only me." That criticism has been a longstanding criticism of TOS, especially amongst feminist critics and anti-racist critics, both of whom believe having Uhura as the communications officer plays into stereotypes of the black, female secretary answering the phone.
No, she
isn't answering the phone, but that's something we're repeatedly
told but almost never
see. "Show, don't tell" is a
vital role if the creators are going to avoid accidently playing into those stereotypes, and it's one that's rarely followed.
Making Uhura the chief of security would answer the longstanding question of just who
is COS aboard the
Enterprise anyway, while also giving the character something to do that's more directly related to an action-oriented plot, and while also avoiding Unfortunate Implications.
Having her be chief of security would be a lot of a stretch, considering that 'Cupcake' was doing that job quite well.
There was no indication that Lt. Cupcake was the chief of security.
And if she was made security, that leaves the question of who takes it over when she's on away missions.
It was never a problem on TNG when Worf -- who also performed the functions of communications officer -- went on away missions. Why would it be for nuTrek?
Also, it might piss off the TOS fans who like Uhura where she is
They
blew up Vulcan. I think we've already crossed the Rubicon of "what will the TOS purists think?"